Method and system for use of a database of personal data records

ABSTRACT

A system and method are presented for managing and using (e.g. for commercial or medical use) of a database. A verified database of a plurality of identified individuals is provided. The verified database comprises a plurality of individual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and relationship data. The verified database is processed in accordance with one or more parameters or conditions selected in accordance with at least one medical application, and a sub-group database is created including data records of the individuals from the verified database having said one or more selected parameters or conditions. This allows collection of data comprising the one or more selected parameters or conditions and delivery of at least part of the collected data to one or more users, and enables applying data from the verified database to provide personalized medicine service to at least one of the identified individuals.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the construction of a database ofindividuals and various applications thereof. In particular, the presentinvention concerns the use of a database of individuals in personalizedmedicine based on authenticated medical and other personal data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Internet is very useful as a medium of communication and provisionand retrieval of information. The Internet became also a medium in whichindividuals form or associate themselves with virtual communitiesconsisting of individuals with common interests, backgrounds, etc. Inorder to belong to such a virtual community an individual ‘surfing’ theInternet typically needs to locate the proper website and register. Itwould have been useful to have an Internet-based means that will be ableto associate an individual with one or more communities (“community”including individuals with family relations, individuals having a commoninterest, individuals having a similar origin or background, etc.),based on a self entered profile.

The Internet also proved to be a useful tool for individuals to locatefamily members, lost friends, etc. This requires posting notes onappropriate virtual bulleting boards, using appropriate search engines,etc. This, however, is a relatively chance process and does not alwaysbring the desired results. It would have been useful to streamline thisprocess.

Some background information may be found in the following publications:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,488 to Gasper et al., discloses a three-dimensionaltree-structured data display;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,325 to Gross discloses a genealogical analysis tool;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,059 to Gupta et al., discloses an adaptivecollaborative intelligent network system;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,350 to Carter discloses a method and apparatus forpricing products in multi-level product and organizational groups;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,567 to Eaton, discloses a system and method forusing a graphical interface for the presentation of genealogicalinformation;

U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,001 to Ripley discloses a system and method forsharing data between hierarchical databases; and

U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,015 to Notargiacomo et al., discloses a method andsystem for building a family tree.

Over the last decade, as the human genome has become unraveled, therehas been a marked interest in developing systems and methods forproviding personalized medicine services. “Personalized medicine” isunderstood to broadly pertain to providing a medical service to anindividual, matched to his genetic makeup and to providing a tailoredmedical treatment at the right time, and at the right dosage based onhis/her personalized medical parameters.

US 2002048755A, to Cohen, describes a system for developing diagnosticassays, useful in determining whether a particular therapeutic agentwill benefit an individual, comprises a continuum of processes thatadvance diagnostic development while concomitantly benefitingdevelopment of the therapeutic agent. This continuum of processes, whichis of dual use, in promoting both diagnostic and drug development, ishighly economic and efficient, and creates synergy betweenpharmaceutical and diagnostic companies.

US 2005246314A, to Eder, describes methods, program storage devices andsystems for developing a Personalized Medicine Service for an individualor group of individuals that can support the operation, customizationand coordination of computer systems, software, products, services,data, entities and/or devices.

US 2007087365A, to Sieben et al., shows that there are twenty-threemarkers which are epigenetically silenced in ovarian cancers. Themarkers can be used diagnostically, prognostically, therapeutically, andfor selecting treatments that are well tailored for an individualpatient. Restoration of expression of silenced genes can be usefultherapeutically, for example, if the silenced gene is a tumor-suppressorgene. Restoration can be accomplished by supplying non-methylated copiesof the silenced genes or polynucleotides encoding their encodedproducts. Alternatively, restoration can be accomplished using chemicaldemethylating agents or methylation inhibitors. Kits for testing forepigenetic silencing can be used in the context of diagnostics,prognostics, or for selecting “personalized medicine” treatments.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is a need in the art in a novel technique enabling verification ofpersonalized data and keeping it up-to-date in real-time, enabling toprovide for example personalized medicine technique based on up-to-dateauthenticated personal records.

A serious issue with Internet use is the fact that it is difficult toverify the identity of communicating individuals. This relativedifficulty in verifying an identity of surfing individuals is an issuein carrying out transactions, such as the purchase of goods or services,over the Internet. The difficulty in verifying identities of ‘surfing’individuals is also a serious issue when confronting a certainindividual who identifies himself to be someone other than he really is.Abuse of this nature is a serious issue in Internet chat rooms, indating services and in many other cases.

The present invention provides a novel method and system for use of adatabase of authenticated identified individuals. In accordance with theinvention a computerized system is provided that permits users of acomputer network, particularly, but not exclusively, the Internet, toinput data on themselves and related individuals and based on that,optionally with verification of data input by other individuals, adatabase of individuals, users and non-users, and their relationships isconstructed. The method and system of the invention have a variety ofdifferent commercial utilities as will be elucidated by the differentaspects and embodiments described below.

Thus, according to one broad aspect of the invention, there is provideda method for using and managing a database, the method comprising:providing a verified database of a plurality of identified individuals,the verified database comprising a plurality of individual-identifierdata sets (IDSs) and relationship data; and processing said verifieddatabase in accordance with one or more selected parameters and creatinga sub-group database including data records of the individuals from theverified database having said one or more selected parameters orconditions, thereby allowing collection of data characterized by the oneor more selected parameters or conditions and delivery of at least partof the collected data to one or more users.

The verified database may be provided as follows: A plurality ofindividuals are permitted to enter individual-associated data bits(IDBs) into a computerized system, where each of the IDBs comprises atleast one personal identifier relating to the individual andrelationship data comprising data on one or more related individuals andthe nature of relationship. The entered IDBs are processed to generatethe IDS, one for each identified individual, being either the sameindividual who has entered the individual-associated data bits or one ofthe related individuals. Then, the verified database comprising IDSs ofidentified individuals is constructed.

In some embodiments of the invention, the processing of the verifieddatabase in accordance with one or more selected parameters orconditions is initiated by a request from a user. The user initiating arequest may or may not be the individual whose data is included in theverified database. For example, such user may be constituted by acertain company requesting services from the system of the presentinvention, to collect data from and/or deliver certain information tothe individuals included in the sub-group database.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the processing of theverified database comprises generating a request to at least some of theindividuals whose data is included into the verified database to provideadditional data according to the one or more selected parameters orconditions. This additional data may be used for updating the verifieddatabase, so as to construct the sub-group database from the updatedverified database.

The one or more parameters may be selected according to one of thefollowing applications: a commercial application, sectorial and targetedmarketing application, a statistical application, an identifyingapplication selected from identifying a hostile person, a lost person, arelationship between a deceased person and living person, a familyapplication.

According to another broad aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod for managing and using a database of identified individuals, themethod comprising: (a) permitting a plurality of users to enterindividual-associated data bits (IDBs) into a computerized system, eachof the IDBs comprising at least one personal identifier relating to theuser and relationship data comprising data on one or more relatedindividuals and the nature of relationship; (b) processing the enteredIDBs to generate an individual-identifier data set (IDS), one for eachidentified individual, being either one of the users or one of therelated individuals and construct a verified database comprising IDSs ofidentified individuals; and (c) processing information in said verifieddatabase in accordance with one or parameters or condition selected forat least one commercial application.

According to some embodiments of the invention the processing resultsmay be used for creating a medical database of at least some of theidentified individuals. Such medical database may comprise informationpertaining to at least one of a disease, a medical condition, agenotype, a phenotype, a family relationship; and a geographic locationof at least one of the identified individuals. The commercialapplication may be based upon personalized medicine.

Thus, according to yet further aspect of the invention, there isprovided a method for using and managing a database, the methodcomprising:

-   -   providing a verified database of a plurality of identified        individuals, the verified database comprising a plurality of        individual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and relationship data;        and    -   processing said verified database in accordance with one or more        parameters or conditions selected in accordance with at least        one medical application and creating a sub-group database        including data records of the individuals from the verified        database having said one or more selected parameters or        conditions, thereby allowing collection of data comprising one        or more selected parameters or conditions and delivery of at        least part of the collected data to one or more users and enable        to apply data from said verified database to provide        personalized medicine service to at least one of said identified        individuals.

The selected parameters or conditions, in addition to said parameter(s)or condition(s) selected in accordance with at least one medicalapplication, may include at least one parameter or condition selectedaccording to one of the following applications: a commercialapplication, sectorial and targeted marketing application, a statisticalapplication, an identifying application selected from identifying ahostile person, a lost person, a relationship between a deceased personand living person, a family application.

The processing of the verified database may comprise creation of amedical database of at least some of the identified individuals. Suchmedical database may comprise information pertaining to at least one ofa disease, a medical condition, a genotype, a phenotype, a familyrelationship; and a geographic location of at least one of saididentified individuals.

In some embodiments of the invention, the medical application is basedupon personalized medicine. At least one personal medical record may becombined with data from the verified database. The personalized medicineservice may be selected from a personalized treatment service, apersonalized prevention service and a personalized prediction service.

According to yet another broad aspect of the invention, there isprovided a computerized system for managing and using a database over acomputer network, the system comprising a server system linked to thenetwork and accessible by users via their communication devicesconnectable to the network, said server system comprising a processorutility, which is associated with a verified database of a plurality ofidentified individuals comprising a plurality of individual-identifierdata sets (IDSs) and relationship data and which is adapted to carry outthe following: process said verified database in accordance with one ormore parameters or conditions selected according to at least one medicalapplication and create a sub-group database comprising data about atleast some of the identified individuals characterized by said one ormore selected parameters or conditions, and apply data from saidverified database in order to provide a personalized medicine service toat least one of said identified individuals.

The processor utility may be configured to be responsive to a userrequest to perform processing of the verified database and creation ofthe sub-group database. In some embodiments of the invention, the serversystem includes a second processing utility configured to be responsiveto a command from the first processing utility to generate a request toat least some of the identified individuals to provide additional dataaccording to said one more parameters and conditions to thereby updatingof the sub-group database. The second processing utility may beconfigured for updating the verified database with said additional data.

The first processing utility may be configured for using the sub-groupdatabase for collecting certain information from and/delivering certaininformation to at least some of the identified individuals of thesub-group database.

The system may also be configured for constructing the verified databaseas described above. The server system(s) may be configured to present atleast some of the identified individuals with a classified offer orprovide certain targeted information.

In some embodiments of the invention, the sub-group database comprises amedical database comprising information pertaining to at least one of adisease, a medical condition, a genotype, a phenotype, a familyrelationship; and a geographic location of at least one of saididentified individuals.

The processing of the verified database may include filtering theinformation in said database to create a sub-group of identifiedindividuals. Then, at least one of a product and a service may beprovided to at least one individual of said sub-group database. This maybe responsive to the information pertaining to the at least oneindividual. The processing of the database may include geographicalmapping of identified individuals of the sub-group. Providing of theindividual(s) with at least one product or service may be responsive tothe geographic location of the at least one individual.

In some embodiments of the invention, the processing of the verifieddatabase is aimed at constructing a family database for each individual.This may be carried out as follows: constructing at least two IDSs forcorresponding at least two identified first individuals; identifying atleast two IDSs having overlapping relationship data including at leastone identical identified individual in the corresponding relationshipdata; and consolidating the at least two relationship data pieces toconstruct an expanded relationship data record. For example, an expandedfamily database may be constructed that comprises all family databaseswhich are overlapping family databases and comprise data identifying theconnection between individual of the expanded family database.

The results of the processing may be presented (displayed) to theindividual(s). For example, an individual can receive information onhis/her position in the relationship web or part thereof.

According to yet another broad aspect of the invention, there isprovided a computerized system for managing and using a database over acomputer network, the system comprising a server system linked to thenetwork and accessible by users via their communication devicesconnectable to the network, said server system comprising a processorutility being associated with a verified database of a plurality ofidentified individuals comprising a plurality of individual-identifierdata sets (IDSs) and relationship data and being adapted to process saidverified database in accordance with one or more selected parameters orconditions and creating a sub-group database comprising data about atleast some of the identified individuals characterized by said one ormore selected parameters or conditions.

The processor utility may be configured to be responsive to a userrequest to perform the above processing of the verified database andcreation of the sub-group database.

In some embodiments of the invention, the server system comprises asecond processing utility configured to be responsive to a command fromthe first processing utility to generate a request to at least some ofthe identified individuals to provide additional data according to theone more parameters and conditions to thereby update the sub-groupdatabase and/or the main verified database.

The first processing utility may be configured for using the sub-groupdatabase for collecting certain information from and/delivering certaininformation to at least some of the identified individuals of saidsub-group database.

According to yet further broad aspect of the invention, there isprovided a computerized system for commercial use of a database ofidentified individuals operating over a computer network, comprising:one or more server systems linked to the network accessible by clientscommunicating over the network; the one or more server systems beingconfigured to receive a plurality of individual-associated data bits(IDBs) entered by clients, the IDBs comprising personal identifiers andrelationship data, the relationship data comprising data on one or morerelated individuals and the nature of relationship, to generate anindividual-identifier data set (IDS), one for each identifiedindividual, being either one of the users or one of the relatedindividuals, to process all the IDSs to construct a verified databasecomprising IDSs of identified individuals and their position in arelationship web, and to process the information in said verifieddatabase according to at least one selected parameter or condition andcreate a corresponding sub-group database of at least some of saididentified individuals.

While the invention will now be described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments in the following examples and with reference tothe attached figures so that aspects thereof may be more fullyunderstood and appreciated, it is not intended to limit the invention tothese particular embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to coverall alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be includedwithin the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.Thus, the following examples which include preferred embodiments willserve to illustrate the practice of this invention, it being understoodthat the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of preferred embodiments of the presentinvention only and are presented in the cause of providing what isbelieved to be the most useful and readily understood description offormulation procedures as well as of the principles and conceptualaspects of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carriedout in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way ofnon-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an interactivemethod for constructing a main, users' related verified databases,useful for the purpose of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a schematic pictorial illustration of a computer system 200 forcreating a database of users' related data in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention

FIG. 3A illustrates a block diagram of a database managing systemaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a simplified block diagram of an interactive system 350 forproviding users/patients with a personalized medicine service;

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a method forconstructing IDSs and ascribing a reliability score in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 exemplifies an embodiment of comparing data bits on an individualobtained from two different IDBs;

FIG. 6A is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an embodimentof step 320 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6B is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an embodimentof step 120 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7A is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an embodimentof step 130 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7B is a simplified schematic illustration showing family structuresand corresponding symbols, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an embodiment ofstep 720 of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 9 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating an embodiment ofstep 140 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10A is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a medical useof the database of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10B is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a method forusing the database of FIG. 1 for medical applications for a selectedgroup of individuals;

FIG. 10C is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a commercialmethod for using the database of FIG. 1 for medical applications for aselected group of individuals;

FIG. 10D exemplifies a layered structure of the verified database familytree including medical data records;

FIG. 10E exemplifies how the system of the present invention cooperateswith a medical center to provide a user or care taker with a clinicalprofile, personalized information and custom services;

FIG. 10F is an exemplary illustration of merged family trees (eachshaded area representing a separately created family tree that mergedwith the others), data on at least some individuals that includesmedical information;

FIG. 11 is a simplified flowchart for providing a personalized medicineoptimal dosage/dosage regimen of a drug, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a simplified flowchart for providing a personalized medicineforward prediction of a disease or disorder, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a simplified flowchart for providing a personalizedpreventative program to an individual, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a commercialmethod for using the database of FIG. 1 for marketing/statisticalapplications in a selected group of individuals; and

FIG. 15 is a simplified schematic flowchart illustrating a commercialmethod for using the database of FIG. 1 for a legal application in aselected group of individuals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the present specification the words “individual” and “person” may beused interchangeably. The term “user” will be used to denote anindividual who uses the system and the method described below and whoenters or views data entered or database items generated in accordancewith the invention.

The term “network” or “computer network”, as used above and furtherbelow, denotes any communication network that permits many users tocommunicate with one another, exchange information and files, etc. Thenetwork is in particular the Internet, although not exclusively. Thenetwork may also be, for example, an Intranet. The term “network” shouldbe construed in a broad sense as including different forms ofcommunication that permit transmission of data between a plurality ofdata transceivers. This includes, but not limited to, computerizednetworks such as the Internet in which computerized devices, e.g.personal or handheld computers, can be employed for entering and/orreceiving data; it may be a line telephone network, in which data may,for example, be entered through the use of the numerical keyboard, e.g.by following an audible menu; a cellular network, through which userscommunicate using mobile communication devices; and any combinationsthereof.

For construction of the database useful for the applications subject ofthe invention, a plurality of users are permitted to enterindividual-associated data bits (IDBs) into a computerized system. Eachof the IDBs comprises at least one personal identifier relating to theuser and relationship data comprising data on one or more relatedindividuals and the nature of relationship. The IDBs are then processedto generate an individual-identifier data set (IDS), one for eachidentified individual, being either one of the users or one of therelated individuals. A database comprising IDSs of identifiedindividuals is thereby constructed.

The database comprises individual-identifying data records constructedby processing a plurality of individual-associated data bits (IDBs)entered by a plurality of users of a computerized system. Each IDBcomprises at least one personal identifier on the user and relationshipdata on one or more related individuals and the nature of relationship.An individual-identifier data set (IDS) is thus constructed, one foreach identified individual, which either one of said users or one ofsaid related individuals. A database comprising IDSs for identifiedindividuals and their position in a relationship web is eventuallygenerated.

The term “permitting” used above and further below denotes providingindividuals with an access to perform the action specified. This may be,by one embodiment, broadcasting a user interface consisting of one ormore electronic forms or pages over a computer network, in whichindividuals can enter data. The user interface has typically data entryfields for entry of the IDBs. The fields may include fixed fields wheredata may be entered in the form of text, by selecting or marking one ofplurality of options, by free text entry fields, etc. Such filed mayinclude essential fields and optional fields. By another embodiment,this may include providing users with the ability to transmit anelectronic file containing the data. Such an electronic file may betransmitted over the network, or may be transmitted off-line through anyother suitable carrier of electronic information such as CD-ROM, amagnetic disk, a flash card, etc. As is clear, the invention is notlimited by the manner in which the data is entered.

The term “individual-associated data bits” or “IDBs” denotes a group ofdata pieces that relate to the individual entering the data. Each of theIDBs may be unique for a specific individual and may include a minimumset of data that permits to identify an individual at a certain degreeof probability and includes some personal identifiers and relationshipdata. The IDBs comprise both personal identifiers and relationship data,defined below. The IDBs may also include other data pieces such asfamily stories, information entered by a data-entering individual forthe benefit of others that view his IDB and in general any information adata-entering individual wishes to associate with data related tohim/her.

The term “personal identifiers” denotes pieces of data on an individual.The personal identifier of an individual may be entered by thatindividual or may, at times, be entered by other users to form the IDS(defined below). Personal identifiers may include formal identifierssuch as name, address, birth date, etc., and other identifiers sucheducation, profession, interests, hobbies, health data, blood type,tissue type, genetic profile, martial status, etc. The entered data maytypically include a minimum set of data that can jointly identify anindividual with some degree of probability. Said minimum set of datatypically include a combination of identifiers that distinguish thespecific individual from others; namely the chance of mistaking such anindividual for another is relatively low. Said minimum set of datashould preferably be entered both with respect to the personalidentifiers as well as with respect to the relationship data. Suchminimum set of data typically include familial data, namely at leastsome data relating to the individuals family.

The term “relationship data” denotes pieces of data that relate toindividuals that the data-entering individual has some form ofrelationship with. Particular example includes other individuals withwhom the data-entering individual has some form of family ties. Thesemay include first degree family members (parents, brothers and sisters,spouse, children) as well as further (second, third, etc.) degree familymembers (grandparents, cousins, in-laws, etc.). The family membersincluded in the relationship data may be living and/or dead. Inaddition, the relationship data may also include data on other type ofrelated individuals including friends, acquaintances, neighbors,business colleagues or associates, members of societies or organizationsto which the individual belongs, and others. The relationship data, inaddition to including some formal identifiers of the relatedindividuals, includes also data relating to the type of relationship,whether it is past and/or present relationship, etc.

The term “individual-identifier data set” or “IDS” denotes a set of datapertaining to an identified individual. The IDBs entered by anindividual are processed to generate an IDS for each identifiedindividual. The IDS may include data based on that entered by theentering individual, optionally differently arranged; or may be refineddata, namely data that was initially processed, for example: to correctinherent inconsistencies; eliminate data which is inherentlyinconsistent and the inconsistency cannot be resolved; data corrected onthe basis of IDBs entered by other individuals (see below); ascribing areliability score to each of the IDBs (see below); etc. In its basicform, the IDS is based on the IDBs entered by an individual user. Infact an IDS will be constructed for every identified individual for whompersonal identifiers were included in entered IDBs. This includes an IDSfor the data-entering individual and any other identified individual forwhom personal identifiers were included among the IDBs. Initially, theIDS may be constructed on the basis of IDBs entered by a singleindividual user. Once more IDBs are entered by different users, data onidentified individuals may also be entered an included in IDBs of otherusers and once processed it may be included in an IDS for thatidentified individual, which may be either a new IDS if that identifiedindividual was not hitherto included in the system or may be additionaldata added to an already existing IDS of an identified individual. TheIDS for an identified individual may thus be continuously updated uponrelevant data entry by other individuals.

It is possible that the IDBs do not contain sufficient information forunequivocal one-to-one identification of each identified individual. Forexample, an IDB of person A may include relationship data on person Bwith personal identifiers that include the name of person B and thenature of relationships between person A and person B. This informationmay be insufficient to unequivocally identify person B. Similarly, somepersonal identifiers of person B may also be included in IDBs entered byanother person C. Thus, initially, two separate IDSs may be formed forperson B. Once the two IDSs are being recognized as belonging to thesame person A, the data included in them may be consolidated into oneIDS.

The IDSs are typically constructed from IDBs entered by two or moredifferent individuals. Thus, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention, at least one IDS, but preferably a plurality of IDSs are eachconstructed from IDBs entered by two or more individuals. As will alsobe noted further below, IDSs may be updated by newly entered relevantIDBs (namely IDBs including data relating to the identified individualassociated with the IDS to be updated), typically on an on-going basis.

The term “individual” in a phrase such as “individual associated withthe IDS” or “IDS associated with an individual” or any other phrase witha similar meaning, is being used herein to denote the individual who isthe subject of the IDS (the primary record in the IDS relates to thatindividual).

The term “identified individual” relates to each individual, datum onwhom was included in one or more entered IDBs. This includes thedata-entering individual and any related individual included in theuser's entered IDBs.

The term “relationship web” refers to a virtual web of nodes and lines,each node being one of the identified individuals and the lines, beingrelationship lines (see below) connect each node to one or more othernodes in the relationship web. Each such line may also have associatedidentifiers that define the type of relationship between the twoindividuals. The term “relationship web” should not be construed only ina graphical sense. Rather, the relationship web may be represented inmany different representations including that of nodes and lines or anyother graphical representation manner, in a form of data tables, it maybe a virtual web generated within a computer, etc.

The term “relationship line” will be used to define a directrelationship link between individuals in the relationship web (a directrelationship link being, for example, first degree family, personalfriends, business colleagues, etc. Distance between individuals in arelationship web may thus be defined in terms of a number ofrelationship lines. For example, three relationship lines to anindividual in a relationship web of friends, mean a friend of a friendof a friend. As another example, two or three connecting lines to anindividual in a family tree mean, respectively, a second degree (e.g.grandparent, grandson, uncle, brother/sister-in-law, etc.) or a thirddegree (first cousin, great grandparent, etc.) family ties.

The commercial use of the database may be through a computerized systemoperating over a computer network. Such system comprises one or moresystem servers linked to the network accessible by clients communicatingover the network; said one or more servers being configured to receive aplurality of individual-associated data bits (IDBs) entered by clients.

The commercial application, which may be online or offline provided,may, for example, include: applications in human medicine, e.g. fortracing and treating familial diseases; sectorial and targetedmarketing; demographic population studies; identifying a hostile person,a lost person, a relationship between a deceased person and livingperson;

formation of a family portal; and many others.

The computerized system is preferably operative over a computer networksuch as the Internet and typically comprises one or more appropriatelyconfigured servers, linked to the network. Individuals can then accessthe system through the network.

The relationship web may, typically, be constructed and presented in theform of family tree in which each identified individual is presented asa node and the relationship web as connectors between nodes.

The term “family tree” used in this patent specification should beconstrued in a broad sense as relating to a data base of a few personsand at least some of their familial relationship. The family tree may berepresented graphically in one of many different graphicalrepresentation means of such information; may be stored as data recordswithin a computer (the data record including at least one identifier foreach person and one or more family relationships to one or more otherindividuals in the family tree); or both. A family tree may also bethought of as a graph (which may be graphically represented or be avirtual representation within a computer) in which connecting linesrepresent the family relationships and the nodes represent the personsof the family tree (to be referred to herein at times as “nodes”). Theterm “family tree” should thus be expansively construed to include anymodel for organizing one or more data repositories in a hierarchicalarrangement comprising at least parent and children nodes. It should beunderstood that a tree may be of different complexity, e.g. be as simpleas one parent and one child, as complex as the theoretical “singlefamily tree” that links all data in the repositories, etc.; two or moretrees may overlap, or one tree may completely include one or more othertrees.

The relationship web may include family trees that are merged togetherto yield merged and enlarged family trees.

The entered IDBs, that will subsequently be included in the IDSassociated with the data-entering individual, may also include personaldata that, once included in the database, may benefit an individual (thedata-entering individual, or another) under defined circumstances. Suchdata may, for example, be blood type, histocompatability data, geneticdata, etc. In case of a surgery, blood transfusion or another emergencymedical procedure, this will permit a rapid search for a suitable donorof blood, tissue, etc. By another example, by entering various personaldescriptors such as personal interests, hobbies or occupation, personalhistory or background, etc., typically inserted in dedicated fields,sub-group databases may be constructed based thereon. For example, asub-group database for individuals that have all a common medicalhistory or physiological parameter, e.g. blood or tissue type, orphysiological condition (certain disease) may be constructed.

Typically with more data on an individual, preferably classified, theremay be an increase in the number and/or extent of uses in accordancewith the invention. For example, certain data on individuals may permitto associate individuals with other individuals with matching personaldescriptors which may then made part of a virtual community (see below).Such association may be defined through inclusion in a sub-groupdatabase. Becoming a member of a virtual community may be beneficial asit may serve as a forum for exchange of ideas, for coordinatingactivities, for business transactions, etc. Data entered into an IDB mayinclude information which may be broadcasted over the computer networkor shared with others. Also, personal descriptors may permit to provide,in accordance with the invention, targeted services, information,offers, etc.

The IDS is a personal data record that typically comprises a main datarecord including data on a first person, which is the individualassociated with the personal data record, and one or more sub-recordsincluding personal identifiers on one or more second, related personsand the nature of their relations (including, but not limited, to familyties) to the first person. The sub-records may include data other thanthe personal identifiers and the relationship data may at times includelinks to such data included, for example, in the IDSs of the secondpersons. The IDS may be a product of consolidation of data from aplurality of IDBs that include data on the first person or data onrelationship of second persons to the first person. For example, aperson A who is a cousin of person B and a sibling of person C may haveits name and possibly other identifiers included in IDBs entered bypersons B and C. Thus, an IDS can be constructed for person A, in whichany personal attributes about him, including his name, comprised in theIDBs entered by persons B and C will be included in the main record ofsuch IDS, which will include also sub-records assigned to persons B andC identifying them as a cousin and sibling, respectively.

The processing of the IDB-originating data may comprise a verificationprocedure of one or more of the IDBs entered by an individual throughcomparison with IDBs entered by one or more other individuals. A databit included among the IDBs entered by an individual that is verifiedthrough data bits included in the IDBs of one or more other individuals,has an a priori higher probability of being correct than a non-verifieddata bit. Furthermore, verification of a number of data bits included inthe IDBs of one individual through data entered by another, may providea measure of reliability of the entered data and thus serve as anindirect measure of verification of data bits that were not verified bythe IDBs of one or more other individuals.

The verification process may include ascribing a reliability score todata bits included in the IDBs of an individual to the entire IDBs, tothe IDS produced on the basis thereof or a portion thereof, e.g. areliability score to the personal identifier of the individualassociated with the IDS, based on the extent of data verification. Thereliability score may be based on the degree of correspondence betweenthe IDBs entered by different individuals. By one embodiment, areliability score is ascribed to each of the data pieces entered by anindividual. Additionally, an overall reliability score for the IDS or atleast the personal identifiers of the associated individual may becalculated, e.g. based on the reliability scores of the different IDBs.Other factors that may influence the reliability score include theextent of relationship data on related individuals included in the IDS,namely the number of relationship lines linking the identifiedindividual to other identified individuals, and the reliability score ofthe related individuals identified in the IDS.

The reliability score or a reliability indicator based thereon may beincluded in the database. The reliability indicator may, for example begraded between poor to good, may be a score, e.g. from 1 to 10, etc. Thereliability score may be made to be accessible to users who review theIDS of an identified individual to permit them to get a sense on theIDS's reliability. At times the IDS of an identified individual will beincluded in the database only if it is equal or greater than apredetermined value. The IDSs then form the basis for a database ofidentified individuals. An important feature of the database is that itincludes also the position of the individual in a relationship web, saidposition being definable through the links of any individual to others.

The relationship web, or typically only portions thereof relevant for anidentified individual, may be represented to the individual in one ormore of a variety of different ways. It may be represented in the formof nodes and connecting lines, as described above. By way of anillustrative example, each node may appear with some basic identifiers,e.g. name, address or picture, and then each node may hyperlink to amore detailed description or a web page of the specific individual. Byway of another example, the relationship web may be represented in oneof a variety of graphical representation means for representing familytrees. The viewing user may be permitted to ‘navigate’ through therelationship web, for example through moving a cursor to different nodesand possibly viewing node-related data, i.e. the IDS or part thereof,e.g. by ‘clicking’ on a node. As will be appreciated such a navigationmode is a non-limiting illustrative example only.

The relationship web may be presented such that a node representing theviewing user is in the center with lines connecting his associated nodeto all his related individuals. In the case of a family relation, forexample, direct lines may typically connect to first degree relationsand indirect lines, namely lines that lead through a point representinganother individual may connect to second and further degree relatives,e.g. a line to a grandparent or a nephew, will connect through a parentand a sibling, respectively. This manner of display as described aboveis not limiting but rather an illustrative example. By way of anotherexample, while navigating through the relationship web, the individualwhich is the focus of review may be displayed in the center.Furthermore, graphic display of the relationship web is also only anon-limiting illustrative embodiment. For example, the relationship webfor an individual may be presented in the form of a table listing thevarious relations under different categories, possibly with hyperlinksto the mentioned individuals.

The relationship web for an identified individual may include a varietyof different types of relationships. One type of relationships are suchentered as part of the IDBs and may include family; current friends,business associates, co-members of organizations or societies,employees, employers, work colleagues, etc.; past friends, businessassociates, co-members of organizations or societies, employees,employers, work colleagues, etc. However, there may also be other typesof relationships that may be entered by the computerized system. Forexample, where an identified individual is identified as one with acertain scope of interest, hobby, as one having a specific background ororigin, etc., the relationship web may be constructed to include otherindividuals with similar scope of interest, hobby, background or origin,etc., either globally, one linked to a certain geographic location andso forth.

The family of an individual, including identifiers of family members andthe nature of the relationship of other family members with theindividual, typically provides a clear and unequivocal identification ofa specific individual. For constructing a database a plurality ofindividual-associated data bits (IDBs) entered by a plurality of usersof a computerized system are processed. Each of the IDBS comprisespersonal identifiers and relationship data comprising data on one ormore family-related individuals and the nature of relationship. In thismanner an individual-identifier data set (IDS) is obtained, one for eachidentified individual, being either one of said users or one of saidrelated individuals. All the IDSs are processed to construct a databasecomprising IDSs of identified individuals. The database may also providean indication of the position of the identified individuals in arelationship web.

Different identified individuals in a family web have different familyrelationships. In other words, the family relationships of differentindividuals, even within the same family, will have only a partialoverlap with one another. By virtue of such a partial overlap, once afamily of one individual becomes linked to another and then to that ofanother and so forth, this may yield, eventually, an essentially globalrelationship web.

The IDS for each first individual includes data on other, secondindividuals with whom the first individual has some form ofrelationship, particularly, but not exclusively, family relationships.Thus, the IDS of each individual may be viewed as a relationshipdatabases, in particular a family database of individuals related tosaid first individual. Thus, two or more IDSs that have at least oneoverlapping node may provide a basis for merging of relationship webs,particularly family trees, to one another. Thus, at least twoconstructed IDSs for corresponding at least two identified firstindividuals are constructed; at least two IDSs having overlappingrelationship data records including at least one identical identifiedindividual in the corresponding relationship data records areidentified; and then the at least two relationship data records areconsolidated to construct an expanded relationship data record. Aspecific example involves the construction of an expanded family datarecord.

The relationship web may also have different layers. For example onelayer of family, another layer of friends, a further layer of businesscolleagues, etc.

The relationship web may also be displayed in a hierarchical way. Forexample, in the case of an individual with a common interest or hobby,as there may be large number of individuals with such an interest orhobby, rather then showing a link to each individual with the sameinterest or hobby, the relationship web may provide a link to a webpage,for example, that will link all individual in a given region or locationsharing the same interest or hobby. Such a webpage may then link toindividual sharing the same interest or hobby in other regions orlocations; or a link to a global webpage of individuals with the sharedinterest or hobby, which will have links to regional web pages of suchindividuals and so forth, eventually down to the level of the differentindividuals.

While it is possible to permit an identified individual to review theentire relationship web, in a typical mode of implementation of theinvention, the individual is permitted to review only a portion thereofrelevant to that individual (such portion to be referred to, in someplaces, as “individual relationship web”). Such portion may be asystem-wide predefined portion. For example, an individual relationshipweb of family members may include all family relationships up to acertain distance, namely up to a certain relationship lines distance. Asanother example, a relationship web of friends or business colleaguesmay also have a limit, e.g. up to two lines, i.e. a friend of a friendor a business colleague of a business colleague, respectively.

By another example, in addition or in the alternative, each identifiedindividual may be given the option of defining the level of his/her‘visibility’ to other individuals, namely defining the portions of theIDS that my be reviewed by users. For example, an individual may begiven the option of defining permissions to viewing the IDS or portionthereof, e.g. based on distance in terms of number of relationship linesor by another relationship parameter, based on a certain profile (suchas all individuals with a certain defined scope of interest, residencein a certain geographical location, etc.), or using any other criterion.

Any identified individual may also, according to an embodiment of theinvention, define the extent in which his IDS or portions thereof shouldbe privileged. Also, under another embodiment, each identifiedindividual may define or provide criteria on identified individual thatmay not be entitled to review all or portions of his IDS. Thepermissions and/or privilege criteria may apply to the entire IDS orportions thereof. Also, different criteria may be applied to differentportions of an IDS.

As will be appreciated, the relationship web is not static but is ratherdynamic and grows upon addition of identified individuals, additionalrelationship lines and additions or updates to the already existingIDSs, as more users of the network enter their IDBs. On some occasions anew user who newly enters his IDBs may already be an identifiedindividual through the IDBs entered by another individual. On otheroccasions such a new user may not be an identified individual but one ormore of his related individuals may already be an identified individual.On other occasions both a new user and his related individuals may benew to the system. In the two former cases, the newly entered data willbe incorporated in the already existing relationship web. In the lattercase, the entered data will form an independent separate relationshipweb until such time as it will become linked through new data entered bylater new users.

An identified individual may receive an automatic notification, e.g. toa computerized or other communication device associated with theindividual or to an electronic address associated with him in case ofdevelopments relating to him or his relationship web, i.e. updates inhis IDS through IDBs added by others; for example, new data relating tohim, new family members added to his family tree, new or updated data onexisting individuals in his relationship web entered by other users, anda variety of other news relating to his relationship web. Thecomputerized device may, for example be a computer in which case thenotification may be an email; a communication device may, for example,be a mobile communication device and the notification may be in the formof an SMS message.

Another use of the method and system of the invention is in commercialapplications based on identified relationships between individuals. Themain database, constructed as described above, and including all theIDSs and the relationship data is used for at least one commercialapplication. For example, a sub-group database may be created from thecontents of the main database and possibly from additionally requestedinformation, according to one or more predetermined criteria to enableclassified proposals or information to selected users.

The method according to an embodiment of the invention comprises:providing a server system that is capable of filtering or mapping thecontents of the main database to permit to channel classifiedinformation or proposals to selected users. The server thus selectsusers to receive specific proposals or information.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an association, groupor a constructed virtual community of individuals may provide a usefulmeans for promoting sales of a product or service within the commonscope of interest of individuals of such association, group or virtualcommunity. Such sales promotion may be through distribution ofelectronic promotion material, placing advertisements on relevantvirtual bulletin boards, etc. The target individuals, according to someembodiments, may be a group of individuals sharing all one or morecommon identifiers.

The database generated in accordance with the invention is another ofits aspects. Such a database may be a highly useful tool for demographicresearch. Such use constitutes an additional aspect of the invention.Thus, the database of the invention may be useful for data mining. Inaddition, the database may be useful for conducting of surveys oropinion polls, etc. In the latter case, the database may be used forsending questionnaires to individuals with specific, predefinedprofiles.

The database of the present invention may be used for commercialpurposes, exemplified, but not limited to, the examples describedhereinbelow.

Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to using thedatabase for marketing. In some cases, the marketing application is asectorial marketing application selected from an on-line and an offlinesectorial marketing application.

Some further embodiments of the present invention are directed to usingthe database for advertising. In some cases, the advertising is selectedfrom electronic media advertising, paper media advertising and banneradvertising.

Some additional embodiments of the present invention are directed tousing the database for a statistical or demographic researchapplication. The statistical application may be selected from gatheringstatistics relating to at least one of a family, a geographic sector, apolitical sector and a virtual community.

This invention is further directed to methods for using the database fora medical application. The medical application may be selected from onepertaining to a blood-related disease, e.g. finding a donor for a bloodtransfusion or a blood component transplant, one pertaining to a geneticdisease, a personalized medical treatment and others.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide an understanding of the invention. However, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that these are specificembodiments and that the present invention may be practiced also indifferent ways that embody the characterizing features of the inventionas described and claimed herein.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the followingdiscussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specificationdiscussions utilizing terms such as “processing”, “computing”,“calculating”, “determining”, “deriving”, “generating” or the like,refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system,or processor or similar electronic computing device, that manipulateand/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic,quantities within the computing system's registers and/or memories intoother data, similarly represented as physical quantities within thecomputing system's memories, registers or other such informationstorage, transmission or display devices.

Embodiments of the present invention may use terms such as, processor,computer, apparatus, system, sub-system, module, unit, device (in singleor plural form) for performing the operations herein. This may bespecially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise ageneral purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by acomputer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may bestored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limitedto, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs,Disk-on-Key, smart cards (e.g. SIM, chip cards, etc.), magnetic-opticaldisks, read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs),electrically programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electricallyerasable and programmable read only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic oroptical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storingelectronic instructions capable of being conveyed via a computer systembus.

The processors/devices presented herein are not inherently related toany particular electronic component or other apparatus, unlessspecifically stated otherwise. Various general purpose components may beused in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenientto construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the desired method.The desired structure for a variety of these systems will appear fromthe description below. In addition, embodiments of the present inventionare not described with reference to any particular programming language.It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may beused to implement the teachings of the inventions as described herein.

Similarly, the computerized system described herein is also notnecessarily related to a specific physical entity. The computerizedsystem may use general components, such as servers, routers, etc., ormay use specialized apparatuses design specifically for use inaccordance with the teaching of the invention.

It should be understood that the methods of the present invention areexemplified by the figures herein, but not limited thereto.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified schematicflowchart 100 illustrating a manner of constructing a main, users'related database, useful for the purposes of the present invention.

Users are permitted to enter individual-associated data bits (IDBs) intoa computerized system (step 110). The obtained IDBs include each apersonal identifier, which includes data relating to the user andrelationship data. The relationship data includes data on the userhimself and data on one or more related individuals, typically, althoughnot exclusively, individuals related to the data-entering individual byfamily. The relationship data also includes data on the nature ofrelationship with the related individuals (e.g. child, parent, sibling,etc.). The IDBs are processed (step 120), to generate IDSs (step 130),one for each identified individual. A verified database of IDSs is thenconstructed (step 140) which includes the IDSs of all identifiedindividuals 142 and a relationship web 144, the latter including data onthe relationship links between identified individuals. The relationshipweb may be one merged relationship web from all individuals or mayinclude a plurality of such webs for different groups of identifiedindividuals.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a schematic pictorialillustration of a computer system 200 for creating a database of users'related data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

It should be understood that many variations to this system areenvisaged, and this embodiment should not be construed as limiting. Forexample, a facsimile system or a phone device (wired telephone or mobilephone) may be designed to be connectable to a computer network (e.g. theInternet). Interactive televisions may be used for inputting andreceiving data from the Internet. In some cases, the systems describedherein may communicate via Intranet, Internet and combinations thereof.Additionally, new methods and systems for communication, beyond those ofthe existing Intranet/Internet are deemed to be usable for the methodsof the present invention.

System 200 typically includes a server utility 210, which may includeone or a plurality of servers and one or more control computer terminals212 for programming, trouble-shooting servicing and other functions.Server utility 210 is linked to the Internet 220 (constituting acomputer network) through link 222, for running system website 223 andfor communication with the users. Users may communicate with the serverthrough a plurality of user computers 230, which may be mainframecomputers with terminals that permit individual to access a network,personal computers, portable computers, small hand-held computers andother, that are linked to the Internet 220 through a plurality of links224. The Internet link of each of computers 230 may be direct through alandline or a wireless line, or may be indirect, for example through anintranet that is linked through an appropriate server to the Internet.The system may also operate through communication protocols betweencomputers over the Internet which technique is known to a person versedin the art and will not be elaborated herein. Users may also communicatewith the system through portable communication devices such as 3^(rd)generation mobile phones 240, communicating with the Internet through acorresponding communication system (e.g. cellular system) 250connectable to the Internet through link 252. As will readily beappreciated, this is a very simplified description, although the detailsshould be clear to the artisan. Also, it should be noted that theinvention is not limited to the user-associated communicationdevices—computers and portable and mobile communication devices—and avariety of others such as an interactive television system may also beused. The system 200 also typically includes at least one call and/oruser support center 260. The service center typically provides bothon-line and off-line services to users from the at least oneprofessional. The server system 210 is configured according to theinvention to carry out the above-described method for creating the mainverified database including the IDSs of all identified individuals andthe relationship web, based on data received from the users, beinginitiated in either pull or push mode.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3A, which is a block diagram of a databasemanaging system 221 according to an embodiment of the invention. System221 is configured as a server system, in the meaning that it is acomputer system linked to a communication network (e.g. the Internet)and is accessible by users from their personal communication devices(computer, mobile phones) via the Internet. System 221 is configured forusing individuals' related data contained in the main verified database227 constructed as described above (i.e., database of IDSs of allidentified individuals and a relationship web) according to one or moreselected parameters. System 221 may be a constructional part(software/hardware utility) of the server utility (210 in FIG. 2) thatcreates the main verified database, or may be a separate server systemconnectable to the main database e.g. via the server utility 210. Also,system 221 is associated with its website which is accessible to usersand which may or may not be a part of website 223 of FIG. 2.

Database managing system 221 comprises inter alia a data processingutility 226 for processing contents of the main, verified database 227of identified individuals. The system is configured for creating one ormore sub-group databases 229 in accordance with one or morepredetermined parameters and/or according to a request 231 inputted tothe system and fed to the processor utility 226. Such a request orpredetermined parameter may, for example, be: a medical parameter, e.g.all individuals having a specific tissue type; a location parameter,e.g. all individuals living in a specific geographical location; etc.Another processor utility 228 is configured for communication with users234. For example, in case some of the users' related data records in themain verified database 227 lack certain data relevant to thepredetermined parameter or request, processor utility 226 operates theprocessor utility 228 to initiate communication with the respectiveusers to request such data. After user input, such data may be added tomain database 227 and if relevant may be used to create or update therespective sub-group database 229. Processor utility 226 may alsooperate the processor utility 228 to distribute certain data from asub-group database 229 to users or a selected group thereof ordistribute certain data to users included in database 229.

For example, a sub-group database 229 may be formed to include data onall individuals suffering from a certain diseases. Data relating totherapy of such a disease may be distributed to such users. Medical datarelating to users from the sub-group 229 may be transferred to a medicalcenter, where these data are further analyzed for research or serviceproviding purposes.

Another example is a subgroup database formed for individuals residingin a certain location and such individuals may then receive offers orpromotional material relating to a product or service provided in theirvicinity. Additionally, a user may request to locate service providersin a specific location and the system may then create a respectivesub-group database and forward information on the content to therequester, at times after obtaining necessary permission from suchservice providers.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3B, which is a simplified block diagram ofan interactive system 350 for providing personalized medicine, which maybe used in addition to or instead of the system of FIG. 3A, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

This figure shows the link of the interactive system 350 via ahospital/medical center 370 to provide diagnosis and/or treatment to anindividual. System 350 is configured a server system which may be aconstructional part of the server system 210 of FIG. 2 for constructingthe main verified database 227 or may be a separate server systemconnectable to the server 210. The system 350 is associated with amemory utility for storing the following databases: a medical recordsdatabase 352, a personalized profile database 354, a disorder treatmentdatabase 356; and a disorder progress monitoring database 358. Thesystem 350 includes a processor utility 359 having a module 360 forrunning a treatment regime algorithm and module(s) 362 for running oneor more tracking disease algorithms 362. It should be understood thatthe memory utility may be entirely a part of the system 350 or may bedistributed between several computerized systems communicatable with oneanother via a communication network. In other words, some of thedatabases or parts thereof may be external to system 350, but may be incommunication therewith. For example, medical records database 352 maybe retained outside system 350, e.g. may exist at the hospital/medicalcenter 370 and provided/copied to system 350.

The system 350 receives information from one or more hospitals/medicalcenters 370. The hospitals/medical centers may provide updatedpersonalized medical records of one or many patients. The personalizedmedical records in database 352 may be collated with personalizedprofiles from the personalized profile database 354 in a number ofdifferent ways. The system 350 includes a processor utility 372configured and operable to continuously update the personalized profilesdatabase 354 based on data in the main verified database 227.

It should be understood that medical centers wishing to use apersonalized medicine methodology may wish to have additions made totheir medical records, based on the authenticated data in the mainverified database 227. The medical center may pay a fee for each pieceof data received from the system 350 or may alternatively, pay asubscription fee to the service providers of database 227. Additionallyor alternatively, the personalized profile database 354 may be updatedwith authenticated information from database 352. However, this data ofdatabase 352 is be verified and authenticated by methods such as thoseillustrated by FIGS. 4-6B hereinbelow, before being transferred todatabase 354.

According to some embodiments, there may be several stand-alone systems350 that do not interact directly with each other, but are configuredand constructed to allow the import/export of verified data from onesystem to another such system, using the methods for dataverification/authentication described herein.

One or more treatment apparatus modules 380 may be activated to treat apatient/user 234 via the system 350 from at least one hospital/medicalcenter 370 and/or by treatment regime algorithm 360 of the system 350.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more diagnostic apparatus modules390 may be activated to diagnose a patient/user 234 via the system 350from at least one hospital/medical center 370 and/or from trackingdisease algorithm 362 of system 350.

The methods of using system 350 of the present invention are exemplifiedby FIGS. 11-13 hereinbelow, but are not limited thereto.

It should further be understood that system 350 can be used for updatingpersonalized medical records in database 352 in real-time fromhospital/medical center 370. The personalized medical records indatabase 352 can also be in real-time updated with data from theverified database 227 and/or or from database 354, which in turn can bereal-time updated with data from the verified database 227 as well asfrom database 352. Data from medical records database 352 as well asfrom personalized profiles database 354 can also be used for updatingthe disorder treatment regime database 356 and/or the disorder progressdatabase 358, in real-time. Data in any one or more of databases 352,354, 356 and 358 can be used to perform at least one of treatmentalgorithm 360 and tracking disease algorithm 362. User/patient 234 canbe treated with treatment apparatus 380 according to at least one of hismedical record in database 352, his personalized profile in database354, his updated disorder treatment regime in database 356, his disorderprogress in database 358. Also, a patient can be treated based onmeasurements taken by diagnostic apparatus 390 and transferred tohospital/medical center 370 and/or based on tracking disease algorithm362. The results of treatment regime algorithm 360 can be used forupdating at least one of databases 352, 354, 356 and 358 per treatmentstep hereinabove. User/patient 234 can be diagnosed with diagnosticapparatus 390 and data from apparatus 390 can be transferred to at leastone of hospital/medical center 370 and can be used for operating thetracking disease algorithm 362. Also, the results of tracking diseasealgorithm 362 can be used for updating at least one of databases 352,354, 356 and 358 responsive to diagnosis step hereinabove.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which is a simplified scheme of IDBsreceived from two users—User-A 302 and User-B 304—and processed, forexample as described above with reference to FIG. 1.

User-A and User-B input respective IDBs, IDBs-A 312 and IDBs-B 314.IDBs-A 312 includes personal identifiers of User-A 312-1 andrelationship data pieces 312-2, 312-3 and 312-4 on related individualsX, C and D, respectively. The IDBs-B 314 similarly includescorresponding data pieces 314-1 through 314-4 on related individuals B,Y, E and F. As will be appreciated the personal identifiers 312-1 and314-1 consist of a plurality of data bits that may characterize each ofusers A and B. Similarly, relationship data 312-2, 314-2 through 312-4,314-4 include personal identifiers of the individuals as well asrelationship data identifying the nature of the relationship betweeneach of the users A and B to the related individuals.

As will also be appreciated, the example presented herein in which thereare 3 related individuals in each of the IDBs is but an example and anynumber of related individuals may be included in the IDBs.

Upon processing of the IDBs (step 320) the computer system identifiesthat related individual X and Y are individuals B and A, respectively.In the next step 330 IDSs are generated. In total, the two IDBs 312 and314 relate to 6 identified individuals and accordingly from these twoIDBs a total of 6 IDSs 340-A, 340-B, 340-F can be generated forindividuals A, B, . . . , F, respectively. A reliability score for eachof these IDSs may also be generated. As IDS-A 340-A and IDS-B 340-B aregenerated each from data included in two IDBs, the relative reliabilityscore that may be generated may be high as compared to that of the otherillustrated IDBs for which the relative reliability score will be lower.

In fact, in this very simplified illustrative embodiment, the IDS forindividual A 340-A and the IDS for individual B 340-B will include amain data record for individuals A and B which will include personalidentifiers verified from two different sources. In addition, the IDS ofindividual A 340-A. for example, will also include relationship data onindividuals B, C and D. However, as individuals C and F are related toindividual B they may also be included as relationship data in the IDSof individual B 340-B.

In the case of a plurality of users entering IDBs, an IDS may begenerated and may receive verification from a large number of sources.

Reference is now being made to FIG. 5 which exemplifies the comparing ofdata bits on an individual obtained from two different IDBs. Illustratedare data bits on individual A which are included in the IDBs inputted byUser-A and in the IDBs inputted by User-B.

Often data bits on an individual entered from one source may includeinaccuracies or may be incomplete. As is illustrated in the example ofFIG. 5, 9 different parameters on individual A are included. User-A hasinputted data relating to his/her age, gender, place of birth, eyecolor, date of birth, father's name, mother's name, brother's name andresidence (A₁ to A₉, respectively). User-B has inputted correspondingdata relating to User-A, save for bits A₈ and A₉. In some embodiments,the two sets of data bits are compared to provide a binary output of“match/mismatch” (“YES”/“NO”), relating to the two pieces of data thatwere compared. A more complex algorithm may be applied upon comparing ofpieces of data on the same individual from multiple IDBs. In some otherembodiments, the output may provide a score based on the closeness ofmatch. For example, relating to the data in FIG. 5, if a binary scoringsystem is used then the father's name of User-A will be accepted (asboth inputs match and are “Peter”) and if a score is provided, such asten out of ten. In contrast, if the binary comparison system is usedrelating to the mother's name, the input will be rejected as “Mary” and“Marie” do not match, whereas, on a scoring basis, the score may beeight out of ten. Similarly, the age of user_((I)) may be rejected on abinary basis, but ascribed a score of 9 on a scoring basis. Regardingthe place of birth, if a binary comparison system is used, then“Baltimore” and New York” do not match, whereas on a score system, ascore of 4 out of 10, for example, may be provided. For brother name andresidence, no data is provided in the IDBs of User-B and while in abinary comparison system this data may be rejected, in a scoring systemthis may receive a medium score such as 5. In the subsequent constructedIDS, in the case of the binary system, the data bits to be entered mayinclude only those with a full match. Against this in a scoring systemthe data to be included may be such with a score above a certain number,e.g. a score greater than 5, in which case data bits A₁, A₂, A₄, A₅, A₆and A₇ will be included. Furthermore, the IDS may be ascribed a totalreliability score based on the individuals score a typically alsofactoring in other factors such as the number of IDBs used to constructthe IDS, the number of related individuals, the reliability score ofrelated individuals, etc.

In some embodiments, different weightings may be given to different databits. For example, the weighting of data provided by an individualregarding himself may be twice that of a sibling relating to thatindividual and three times more than that received from a cousinregarding that individual. The degree of closeness of the user providingthe information relating to the individual may be used to calculate theweighting. The weighting may therefore, for example, be calculated as afunction of the number of verifications multiplied by the weightingassigned to each of the verifications (each of which is itself afunction of the closeness of the two users in that verification).

Thus, in some embodiments the data provided by User-A regarding themother's name, place of birth and age may be accepted, whereas thesedata provided by User-B may be rejected due to the lower weightingthereof.

It should be understood that many different other weighting models andcomparison algorithms, including such that are known in the art, can beapplied in accordance with the invention.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6A, which is a simplified schematicflowchart 500 illustrating an example of implementation of theprocessing step 320 of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

In a binary comparison step 510, the individual data bits in the IDBs oftwo users, User_(N) and User_(M) (data bits 1 to I of the IDB_(N) ofUser_(N), (DB₁₋₁)_(N), and data bits 1 to J of the IDB_(M) of User_(M),(DB_(I-J))_(M)), for example User-A and User-B of FIGS. 4 and 5, arecompared. For example, the age of User_(N) is compared to that providedby User_(M) in the comparing step 510. As is seen in FIG. 6A, User-A hasinputted her age to be 37, whereas User-B has indicated that the age ofUser-A is 38. In a checking step 520, the system checks to see if((DB_(I))_(N) and (DB_(J))_(M)) are identical. If the two data bits areidentical, as in the case, for example, with respect to data bit A2 inFIG. 5, these data bits are stored 530 in the memory and then in asubsequent step 540 the system determines whether there are more databits in the two IDBs to compare and if positive next data bits areselected 550 in the two IDBs and processes begins again. In case thecomparison step 520 yields a negative result, the system proceedsdirectly to determining step 540.

In case the determining step 540 concludes that there are no more databits in the two IDBs to compare, the system determines whether there aremore IDB_(M)S to compare. If positive the next IDB is chosen 570, thenext IDB being chosen from either a random list of IDBs or from a listof IDBs predetermined to have a high probability of matching data bitswith the data bits included in IDB_(N).

Should comparison step 560 yield a negative result, the IDB_(N) isrejected 575 and the system proceeds to next determining step 580 todetermine whether there are more IDB_(N)S that should be compared toother IDBs. If in the affirmative, a new IDB_(N) is obtained and thesystem returns to step 510. If there is no additional IDB_(N) theoperation stops 599.

In some other embodiments, the IDBs are stored and assigned reliabilityvalues. The reliability values may be accumulated for each user so as toascribe to each user a general reliability value (GRV). The GRV may beused to choose selected users having relatively high GRVs for providinginformation to the system and for eliminating the less reliable userswith lower GRVs.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6B, which is a simplified schematicflowchart 600 illustrating an embodiment of step 120 for obtainingindividual-identifier data set (IDS) of FIG. 1.

As is described hereinabove, and particularly with reference to FIGS.1-6A, system 200 is operative to obtain IDBs for a plurality of users.The IDBs can be obtained over the internet and/or via any of theapparatus shown in FIG. 2 or any other known in the art. IDBs fromdifferent users are compared in flowchart 600. For example, the IDBsaccepted in the illustrated example of FIG. 4, may be further comparedtaking into account the relative distances, namely the number ofrelationship lines, between the two or more users. In some embodiments,this is a further process in addition to the comparisons of IDBs madewith reference to FIGS. 4-6A.

In other embodiments, this process at least partly replaces some of thesteps described in FIGS. 4-6A. For example, in flowchart 600, the IDBsof multiple users designated IDB₁ . . . IDB_(N) obtained respectivelyfrom users User₁ . . . User_(N) are compared in comparison step 610.These IDBs may be pieces of information provided by a user regardinghimself and one or more other relevant individual. When a comparison ofmultiple sources of data is employed in step 610, one or more algorithmsmay be applied to eliminate any extraneous data processing (such as byrational design methods, known in the art).

For example, in step 610, the IDBs obtained from a plurality of usersrelating to various identifiers can be compared to obtain a set ofrelative fits of the various IDBs.

The output of step 610 may include at least one of the following;

-   -   a) a fit of IDBs obtained relative to data in a memory or        database;    -   b) a fit of IDBs obtained from one or more users relative to one        or more other users;    -   c) a plurality of IDBs pertaining to different users;    -   d) at least one indication of a relationship and/or distance        between two or more users.

In a measuring step 620, the distance between two or more users iscalculated or measured. Distance may be defined according to one or moreset of rules. One none-limiting example includes at least one of thefollowing:

a) A relationship line between two blood relatives of a first degree isstandardized to one standard length away (such as a user to his child,parent, sibling or spouse); a line of two standard relationship linesmay be standardized by a blood relationship of two degrees (such as auser to his grandparent or grandchild, first cousin, niece or nephew,sibling-in-law, parent-in-law) etc.; and

b) A line between friends may be defined in relative terms of, forexample: a lover, first degree; best friend, first degree (one standarddistance away); social group friend, second degree (two standarddistances away), work acquaintance, third degree (three standarddistances away).

The distance between at least some of the set of users may be calculatedusing the one or more set of rules and outputted. Thereafter, thecalculated distances are stored in the system's computerized memory.

In an assigning reliability step 630, the reliability of data obtainedfrom a user concerning another user is calculated as a function of thedistance between them calculated from step 620. For example, bloodrelatives of three relative lengths away, may be assigned a higherreliability value (to be designated herein as “R_(D) value” or “R_(D)”)than friends of the same relative length away.

In a calculating match step 640, the match is calculated as a functionof the R_(D) value. In some cases, this may be a simple multiplicationof match using the corresponding fit from step 610.

In an accepting step 650, all IDBs having a match of more than apre-determined value are accepted and others rejected. In someembodiments, only the accepted IDBs are saved to memory.

In an optional filtering step 660, one or more algorithms are applied tothe accepted IDBs. The filtering step is designed to reduce the numberof IDBs to a minimum and to reject “non-essential IDBs”.

As already noted above, each IDB includes personal identifiers of thedata-entering individual as well as data on related individuals. At theend of the process 670, an IDS, is defined for each of the identifiedindividuals, which include the data-entering individual a well as therelated individuals.

In a user checking step 680, it is checked to see if an IDS has beencalculated for all of the identified individuals in all of the IDBs. Ifnegative, a search is performed to find the next IDB in an update step690 and then steps 610-680 are repeated until each of the identifiedindividuals has a corresponding IDS. The IDSs are stored in the systemmemory 288.

The methods of the present invention for forming relationship webs areexemplified by, but not limited to the following example.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7A, which is a simplified schematicflowchart 700 for developing a relationship web, illustrating anembodiment of step 130 of FIG. 1.

In an IDS obtaining step 710, the IDSs of S users are obtained. Thisstep may be similar to or different from flowchart 600 of FIG. 6B. Insome cases, the IDS of some users are stored in one database and othersin another database. The databases may be merged, or combined into athird database in system 200.

The construction of an IDS should be understood in the virtual sense inthe generation of an ensemble of data which serves as personalidentifiers of an identified individual and his related individuals. Inaccordance with one embodiment, all components which constitute one IDSare stored as one data record. In accordance with other embodiments, aplurality of elements constituting a single IDS may be distributedbetween a plurality of data records.

In step 720 a relationship web, as described hereinabove, is created,for example on the basis of the obtained IDSs. This can include creatingfamily trees, creating society hierarchical trees, creating workhierarchical trees, and the like. According to some embodiments of theinvention, isolated relationship webs are created for each individual,showing all individuals having a certain predetermined number ofrelationship links to that individual. In accordance with otherembodiments of the invention, the relationship web includes a pluralityof individuals, e.g. all individuals residing in a geographicallocation, all individuals of a defined religion or sect, all individualsbelonging to a certain culture, and occasionally all individuals in thedatabase.

One exemplary use of the invention is in the automatic construction of afamily tree. Unlike many systems that permit a user to produce hisfamily tree, in accordance with the invention the generation process isin fact automatic. Although the user enters some of the relevant data,other data relevant for the construction of a family tree for a specificindividual may be entered by others, as is explained with reference toFIG. 5. Another unique feature of the invention that is permits mergingof different family tree databases to one another.

FIG. 7B exemplifies family structures 760, 770, 790, in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with some embodiments, each family or group of individualscan be provided with a family structure A, B or C. Family A representedby structure 760, has a mother 762, father 764 and child 766. The fatherand mother belong to generation N and the child to generation N+1. Theremay, of course, be a plurality of children (not shown). The mother andfather are linked to the child with one line each 763 and 765. Ifmarried, the mother and father are linked with line 768.

In family B, represented by a one-parent family comprising structure770, the father is (currently) unknown. The mother 772 is linked tochild 776 by a solid line 773. The father 774 is linked to the child bya dotted line 775.

In some other cases, such as in family C, represented by structure 790,there are no known parents. Child 796 is linked to mother 792 and tofather 794 by two dotted lines 793, 795 respectively.

The family structures of A, B and C may be denoted in “shorthand” as782, 784 and 786 respectively, as is shown in FIG. 7B, where the childrelated node is denoted 783, and the parents' related nodes—781 and 782respectively.

These families may be real genetic families or families of people whohave a certain social or work relationship.

Turning back to FIG. 7A, the building of the relationship web utilizescreation of the family tree. The family units are sorted andcategorized. Thereafter, they are compared and super-imposed so as toform one or more relationship webs with a proper location of eachindividual therein (step 730). In some cases, steps 720 and 730 may becombined or their order reversed. For example, the construction of therelationship web may comprise a combination of placing individuals andfamilies within a web.

In some embodiments, the relationship web is formed by combining aplurality of family structures, particularly family trees, included intwo or more IDSs. As already noted above, each IDS includes, amongothers, personal identifiers and relationship data on relatedindividuals. Thus, as also already pointed out above, each IDSconstitutes a sort of a family database and may be used for constructionof a family tree. By combining relationship data included in differentIDSs one family tree may be enlarged and merged to others.

Data included in an IDS is already verified through some mode ofverification, particularly such IDSs constructed from IDBs entered by aplurality of individuals. Thus, data included in an IDS will have somedegree of verification whereby each related individual included in anIDS is already a verified individual and accordingly family trees mergedin that manner are verified family trees.

As already pointed out above, while an IDS contains data on relatedindividuals, at the same time there is also an IDS for each of therelated individuals. Thus, upon merging of family trees throughassociation of family databases from two or a plurality of IDSs, allIDSs associated with their related individuals in the IDSs whichconstitute the basis for merger may be updated, automatically, forexample, by addition of related individuals to such IDSs as a result ofnew individuals who now become related through such merger of familytrees.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8, which is a simplified schematicflowchart 800 exemplifying the formation of a relationship web (step 720in FIG. 7A).

In an obtaining step 810, data regarding an individual is obtained. Theso obtained data may be sorted according to a number of differentparameters such as, but not limited to, type and relative position (step820). For example, data may be sorted into the type of relationship web,family, friend, work etc. The data may be sorted according to relativeposition, for example, age, generation, geographical location andsub-location.

In a data reduction step 830, the quantity of data regarding theindividual is sifted using at least one algorithm, such as by rationallydesigning the required data set, as is known in the art. In someembodiments, this step may precede step 820 (the data is sifted beforesorting), in some other embodiments (as shown in the figure), sifting isapplied to the sorted data.

The reduced data is then processed to form a relationship web (step840). For example, a relationship web may be formed by combining aplurality of family structures (such as 782, 784, 786 of FIG. 7B). Therelationship web may typically have a multidimensional topology.

The data obtained in the previous step may then be used to associateindividuals, including, but not limited, individuals belonging to asingle family, in a relationship structure one versus the other. In somecases, an individual may appear in several different family structures,such as family trees. Such an individual can then be used as a referencepoint to connect between the different structures and/or family trees.

The methods of the present invention for verifying relative positions onrelationship webs include, but are not limited to standard vectormatching methods. Using algorithms known in the art, the referencepoints between different structures/family trees can be ascertained witha very high degree of probability.

Reference is made to FIG. 9, which is a simplified schematic flowchart900 exemplifying formation of a virtual community according toembodiment of FIG. 1.

In a first filtering step 910, the IDSs obtained in step 130 of FIG. 1are filtered, for example, with regard to one or more indicators such asresidence, scope of interest, hobby, demographic parameters, and others.For example, cyclists in the Regent's Park area in London, UK, can beselected in this manner from all other individuals.

In a subsequent asking step 920, all such selected individuals may beasked, by the system, if they wish to join a “Regent's Park CyclingCommunity”. Of those asked, some may provide a positive reply by, forexample, following a link which links them to a web page within thesystem website, that is formed for the “Regent's Park CyclingCommunity”. A membership list of such formed virtual community may thenbe drawn and may be made available to all the identified individuals whochose to join this virtual community.

In an assigning rules and fees step 940, the joining individuals areasked to pay a standard annual fee and to agree to abide by a set ofrules. For example, the rules may include: a) paying the fee by April ofeach year, b) not riding on the pavement (sidewalk) in London, c) notriding within 50 meters of the Regent's Park mosque unless fullycovered, d) always using a front and rear lamp from sunset to 8 am; ande) applying a membership sticker to the front handlebars of the bicycleso as to be easily identified.

In a checking step, 950, the joining individuals if the abide by therules. If, for example, the user does not pay the annual fee by April,he may be rejected from the community. Likewise, he may be rejected ifhe is found to break any of the rules b) to e). If he conforms to therules, he is retained within the community until the April of thesubsequent year.

The method as exemplified herein enables the formation of a database inwhich the reliability of the IDSs are high and the probability of theverified data being incorrect is low. Furthermore, the superimpositionof the family structures as shown in FIG. 7B provide a verification ofidentity tool superior in reliability to any other tool known in the artheretofore. The identity of an individual is verified by the methods ofthe present invention with a high degree of probability. Furthermore,the relationship between different family members is also verifiedunequivocally. Thus, the databases formed using the methods of thepresent invention may be used for many applications, as are exemplifiedherein.

The IDS containing databases of the invention contain verified data onindividual and their relationships. Such databases may be used, inaccordance with the invention, for a variety of uses where verificationof user's identity is important. Such may include, for example, avariety of applications in internet e-commerce, for virtual networkingwith real and identified individuals, etc. Some applications that makeuse of the verified data included in the database of the invention willbe exemplified further below. The fact that the IDSs containing databaseof the invention includes real and verified information on theindividual's and individual demographics, may be used for a variety ofuses for which computer network have not been used hitherto. Such mayinclude, for example, demographic research, opinion polls, referenda andelections.

For example, demographic surveys and opinion polls can be carried out,on the basis of gender, age, ethnic type, religion, nationality, socialstatus, and generally any breakdown of parameters of the identifiedindividuals. All such surveys and opinion polls may have a relativelyhigh accuracy as the data in the IDS, and hence the breakdown of theindividual into groups of individuals with identified parameters, iswith a relatively high reliability.

Use of the database for marketing purposes, such as for targetedmarketing to individual with selected personal identifiers, is anotherpossible application of the invention. Such targeted marketing may be toindividuals selected through certain personal identifiers, may be to agroup of individuals belonging to a virtual community formed inaccordance with the invention, typically such which relates to theinterest focus of such a virtual community. For example, a computerizedchess game may be marketed to a virtual community of chess players.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable subcombination.

Since the relative position of family members are reliably mappedaccording to the present invention, the nearest scheme may be locatedwhich may be important, for example, for purposes of adoption ofindividuals to related individuals, in order to allow to claim aninherited estate of an heirless deceased, etc.

The following are some examples of uses of the database configured asdescribed above.

EXAMPLE 1 Medical Applications of Family Tree Databases

i) Blood Type

The blood type of a very large numbers of users/individuals may be knownand verified using the individuals related database (main databaseincluding the IDSs all identified individuals and a relationship web.Thus, in this specific example, the blood type is a predeterminedparameter for creating the verified database (227 in FIG. 3) andcreating therefrom a sub-group database (229 in FIG. 3). Thisinformation can be used for obtaining blood from blood donors, forexample.

Reference is now made to FIG. 10A, which is a simplified schematicflowchart 1000 illustrating a medical use of the database createdaccording to the embodiments of the invention.

In a first step 1002, a verified database (227 of FIG. 3) created asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 is processed to selectthose users' data records which contain blood type related data in orderto further filter (by processor 228) the verified database to findindividuals having a specific blood type, e.g. an AB-blood type, whichis relatively rare (around 1% of the general population) and to therebycreate a respective sub-group database. The verified database 227 isanalyzed (by processor 226) and it may be found, for example, that ofall the verified individuals in database 227, only 0.001% of thepopulation are known to have the AB-blood type. This may mean that thedata pertaining to blood type is absent in the main database for many ofthe identified individuals. In such a case processor 226 operatesprocessor 228 to generate a request from all the residual 99.999% of theverified individuals information regarding their blood type or the bloodtype of their relatives and acquaintances known to them (step 1006). Inthis way a subgroup database 229 may be further updated.

Processor 228 (FIG. 3) may be configured to map all of the population inthe sub-group database having the AB- blood group according to theirgeographic location (step 1008).

In a provision step 1010, for example, the individuals of the sub-groupidentified as living in Greenwich Village, New York having the AB-bloodtype may be invited to obtain a medical treatment, a diet related toblood type, or asked to donate blood, due to a local shortage thereof.

If the blood type of a user is known, then the user can be advised ofdangers pertaining to his/her specific blood type. For example, a womanof O− (Rhesus negative) can be warned of the dangers of becomingpregnant from an O+ (Rhesus positive) man and can additionally beprovided with advice regarding immunizations before/during pregnancy.

A family having a certain blood disease, such as sickle cell anemia,thalessemia or hemophilia can be mapped to find disease carriers, toprevent marriages with increased predominance of the disease and to finddiseased individual and to provide them with the correct therapy, suchas gene therapy, if available.

Diets for a certain blood type known in the art may be marketed toindividuals or families of that blood type, as those individuals orfamilies have been mapped, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention, as having that blood type.

ii) Diseases in Individuals

An individual suffering from a certain disease or having a certainfamilial trait, may be prone to certain diseases, may be prone toage-related disorders, etc. Since the individual provides someinformation to the main users' related database, the information may beused to assist him in the control, prevention and treatment of his/herpotential disease or disorder.

The database may be used to map all individuals in a certaingeographical area suffering from the same disease or disorder. Theseindividuals of this target group may be offered the same or differenttreatments and their progress over time may be monitored.

Additionally, the target group may be offered trips to a certainhospital specializing in treating migraines.

Reference is now made to FIG. 10B, which is a simplified schematicflowchart illustrating another example of a method for using the users'related database for medical applications for a selected group ofindividuals.

In a processing step 1012, the main database is analyzed to select thoseindividuals who have entered the relevant data into their data recordsor appropriately organize the data from the main database to findindividuals who exhibit a certain trait, e.g. tyrosinase positivealbinism and create a sub-group database of phenotype/genotype positiveindividuals (step 1014). It may be found for example, that of all theidentified (verified) individuals in the main database, only 0.0007% ofthe population of the identified individuals are known to exhibittyrosinase positive albinism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albino). Thismay mean that the data pertaining to albinism is absent from the maindatabase for many of the identified individuals. Thus, optionally, therespective request to the verified individuals can be generated and thesub-group database updated accordingly.

In a further processing step 1016, the sub-group database is processedto identify for each individual whether he/she has a disease or trait X.If YES, the respective individuals may be offered a drug and/or therapy(step 1018) and if NO a screening program may be periodically offered tothe respective individuals (step 1024). The individuals may befollowed-up (step 1026) and statistical data may be collected (step1030).

iii) Diseases in Families and Community

Certain families have a greater incidence of certain diseases than thatof the general population. These diseases can be divided into geneticdiseases, such as a congenital heart disease, diabetes and non-geneticdiseases, such as influenza, multiple sclerosis and various types ofcancer.

FIG. 10C is a simplified schematic flowchart 1040 illustrating acommercial method for using the database of FIG. 1 for medicalapplications for a selected group of individuals.

In a processing step 1042, main database is processed to findindividuals having a certain genetic disease and a respective sub-groupdatabase is created (step 1044). Based on relationship data and/rgenerated family trees, family members of individuals having saiddisease are alerted for the possibility that they have such a diseaseand may be directed to perform necessary tests, go on a certain diet toreduce risk of having an active disease, such as in the case of Type IIdiabetes (step 1046). Optionally, such individuals may be offeredcertain drug-related information or other relevant health-relatedinformation relevant to them.

iv) Personalized Medicine

Although 99.9% of DNA shared among all people is identical, it isbelieved that crucial clues to health conditions are found in the slightgenetic differences between individuals. It thus appears that familyhistory may present itself as being one of the greatest risk factors formany diseases. Moreover, families share social and cultural traditions,behaviors and habits. These factors yield an immense impact on theoverall health status of family members.

Personalized medicine may therefore be based upon both family medicalhistories and on a user profile.

Personalized medicine may be based on data/information from any one ormore known family history initiatives including those of the Office ofthe Surgeon General; National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI);the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); The Agency forHealthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ); and The Health Resources andServices Administration (HRSA). The data from these initiatives as wellas using knowledge/data from policy makers (DC), researchers, insurers,providers, physicians, may be applied in conjunction with the databaseof the present invention to build a personalized medicine database. Thedata from the personalized medicine database may be used to analyze hugequantities of family-oriented health data. This personalized medicinedatabase may be used for epidemiological studies over a period of time.

The personalized medicine database provides a unique ability to identifygenealogical traits and personalized risk factors based on authenticateduser family trees and associated family histories.

Based on the associated family history and other risk factors, a diseaserisk assessment can be performed, leading to a set of recommendationsfor one or more of: lifestyle changes to aid disease prevention;prescribing screening tests for early disease detection; recommendinggenetic tests for determining if any other family members are at risk;and, most importantly, family members may benefit, both directly andindirectly, from the database capability to accumulate huge amounts ofauthenticated family oriented health data. By “directly” is meant thatthe individual may be provided with real-time information regarding adisease from which he suffers, such as new drugs or clinical trials. By“indirectly” is meant that an individual may be provided withinformation which he can use to assist one or more of his knownrelatives.

The personalized medicine database may provide information or marketedproducts or therapies to individuals according to the individual's age,gender, health status, genetic status, socioeconomic group, genotype,phenotype, ethnic group and geographic location.

A young individual may wish to follow his growth rate, and thus thedatabase may provide him with growth charts (height, weight etc.).

A middle-aged individual may be interested to monitor his cholesterol,LDL and HDL level and would thus be provided with charts to be filled inover time by his health practitioner.

The database normally comprises two classes of individuals:participating individuals (e.g. the family tree builder) and reportedindividuals (e.g. a late ancestor or a non-participating or passivefamily member). Each individual can belong either to one of the classesor to both of them. Thus a health form to be filled in by an individualmay be a first or a third party report. In the second case a rankingalgorithm which takes into account the number of identical reports andthe genealogical distance of the reporter is used for evaluating theauthenticity of the reported health condition.

Data, whether from a first, second or third party, may be enteredmanually into system 200, though may alternatively be retrieved fromlaboratory reports.

Additionally, an individual may be asked to provide data pertaining tohis immunization history including active immunizations and as a resultof disease.

The personalized medicine database may be used to provide a diseaseprogression report and a progression graph.

Additionally, the personalized medicine database may be used to generatetables or charts of some of the data. The data may additionally beexported for use in risk assessment and actuarial analyses.

The technique of the present invention for creating the verifieddatabase allows users to map their individual world of familyconnections, creating a unique personal web which provides an authenticbasis for understanding and carrying out interactions with family,friends and colleagues. The system may represent data, including auser's map of his personal world of family connections, in a layeredform: each custom application corresponds to a certain facet of theuser's real life, always utilizing the basic layer (e.g. geographicinfo, cultural and religious denomination, medical history, etc.) ofgenealogical connections. Practically, tailored applications and globalfamily bonds empowered by sharing life experiences and information canbe utilized. A user is allowed to merge a personal family tree with anyand all other verified trees that are related to anyone on his originaltree. As members are added and family trees are established andverified, the system begins identifying genealogical matches. Familytrees begin to connect, global families grow and new relationships arediscovered. The synergy of trees into forests creates a personal web offamily connections and, in turn, interconnected data, which has not beenpreviously available.

FIG. 10D exemplifies such a layered connectivity model. As shown, usersA, B, C and D are associated with stacked pillars of independent layersof data. Here, L₁ is the basic connection layer, L₂ is the life stylehabit layer, L₃ is the personal medical history data layer, and L₄ isthe third party dedicated service layer. As shown in the figure, theonly data shared by default, in this example, is the basic connectionlayer. The data pieces of different layers are logically, and optionallyphysically, stored separately. The system operates to constantly mirrorthe relevant layers to the medical information providers. It should benoted that the system (through its gateway) may also relay informationfrom one information provider to another, based on custom cooperationagreements.

Such layered approach to user data enables a secure and versatile modelof data distribution, allowing each information provider full controlover the collection of the dedicated user information. The onlyinformation that might be stored in the central system is the users'name and set of connections. In this manner, data collected by theindividual medical information providers is instantly put intogenealogical context, setting the infrastructure to powerful personalapplications. The layered infrastructure will also allow medicalservices to correlate their medical records with the individualinstances and links, and thus clinically harvest the user database. Thisfeature represents a one-way query, without streaming any informationout of the care-takers' private system.

The present invention provides for establishing and verifying familytrees and finding matches between individuals in the merged familytrees. The system can recognize these matches beyond the user'sknowledge boundaries, discovering unknown connections. As people joinand build their family trees, the system identifies genealogicalmatches. The trees begin to connect, the global family grows andrelationships can be found between any two people in the system.Inputting the genetic maps of individuals, allows extremely complexinterdisciplinary cross-references (e.g., creating a cardiovascularprofile, based on scattered endocrinological evidence). At the sametime, clinical research may be conducted in order to identify new‘incriminating’ genetic patterns, thus developing new preemptivediagnostic and even therapeutic protocols. In other words, the inventionprovides for family tree reconstruction enabling, among other, to beused in a bioinformatics instrument.

FIG. 10E exemplifies the data distribution between a care taker or user234, the system of the present invention 400 (capable of processing datain the verified database according to one or more selected parameters orconditions) and a medical center 370. According to the layeredconnectivity model, all medical history information remains on theservers of the medical center and is controlled there. Lifestyle habitsare mutually recorded, whereas all names and connections are mirrored tothe system 400, under strict, mutually agreed upon, privacy protocols.Users are recorded in a layered fashion, as described above, from thevery instance of individuals' sign up. As shown, a user or a care takeron his behalf, generally at 234, inputs, through his personalcommunication device connectable to the network, the user's pedigree D₁,life style habits D₂ and personal medical history D₃. The user's or caretaker's communication device being either installed with a certainapplication program interface or operating according to instructionsreceived from the system 400 via the network, operates to transmit thesedata pieces to the medical center 370, while the life-style habits andgenealogical data D₁ and D₂ are mirrored to the servers 400. The lattergenerates a unified report of converged pedigree and life-style profilesD₄ and transmits this data to the medical center 370. At the medicalcenter, the received data are processed to create personalized info andservices data D₅ and transmit it to the user or care taker 234. The datapiece D₅ may be maintained in the user-related data record in thedatabase of the medical center.

As indicated above, the technique of the present invention provides fora powerful proprietary convergence and management bioinformaticsinstrument. Using genealogical connectivity provided by the system ofthe present invention, user medical data can be converged with those ofhis/her entire authenticated family (pending each individual'sauthorization. As illustrated in FIG. 10F, connections reported frommultiple sources converge and create an elaborate pedigree. The systemperforms the so-called “data mining”, namely recognizes predispositionsfor diabetes and hyperlipidemia (both Endocrinological indications) andhighlights the increased possibility for Ischemic heart disease(cardiovascular indication) among offspring.

v) Other Medical Applications

The database of the present invention may additionally be used to mapdrug resistance, drug allergies, drug-drug interactions, and drug-drugcontra-indications. The database could be further used to preventmassive damage to large populations, such as in the “thalidomide” case.Such contra-indications could be mapped, according to certainembodiments of the present invention, in real-time, and the drugcompanies providing such a drug could be warned to stop providing it tousers.

The database of the present invention could be used in gathering medicalevidence and for suing drug companies on the basis of the gatheredevidence.

Users may provide very detailed medical records to the database in orderto receive good medical insurance and medical treatment package deals.

FIG. 11 is a simplified flowchart 1100 for providing a personalizedmedicine optimal dosage/dosage regimen of a drug, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention and operative using the systemsdescribed hereinabove.

In a first defining step 1102, a disease or disorder, which user/patientsuffers from or is likely to suffer from in the future, is defined. Thismay for example be lung cancer.

Then, the personalized profile of the user/patient is defined (step1104). The personalized profile may include, but is not limited to, anyone or more of the following: personalized genetic profile (genotype,haplotype, place in the family tree created based on the verifieddatabase, family medical history); personalized medical records; age,location, socio-economic status, BMI; smoking and drug use profile;occupation; hobbies and other authenticated personalized data.

The personal profile (PP) of the user as defined in step 1104 iscompared with the response of other patient(s) to known treatmentregimes (e.g. using respective database 356 in the example of FIG.3B)—step 1106. It is known in the art that some groups of individualsrespond well to Gefinitib (Iressa) (see, for example, Sordella et al.,Science 20 Aug. 2004: Vol. 305. no. 5687, pp. 1163-1167). If the geneticmake-up of patient 234 is known, it can be used to predict whether adosage is optimally matched to him. For example, if the patient carriesa certain EGFR (Elongation growth factor receptor) mutation, then thepatient may stand a better chance of responding to Gefinitib thanpersons not carrying the mutation.

Likewise, certain sub-populations respond better to a two drug therapyfor lung cancer than others.

Thus in a choosing step 1108, the personalized profile of the patient,having been previously well defined genetically in step 1104, can becompared for matching with the known histories of patients in the samegenetic sub-population(s).

The response to a treatment regime of the patient is monitored over time(e.g. using apparatus 390 in the example of FIG. 3B). Such monitoringapparatus feeds data to a tracking disease algorithms (362 in FIG. 3B).The treatment regime may be adjusted with time in step 1110 and datapertaining to the patient's state is further fed into respectivedatabase of the data managing system (e.g. system 350 in FIG. 3B). Thepatient's profile is updated accordingly in step 1104. This process maybe performed for a large number of patients worldwide and the data usedand compared to provide useful statistics which allow for improvedadjustment of treatment regimes to one or more of the patients overtime.

The database managing system of the present invention may therefore beused to provide personalized medicine to a very large number of patientsworldwide, with both initial and updated optimized personalized dosageregimes responsive to each patient's initial and updated personalizedprofile, respectively.

In a similar way, the system may be used to predict the development of adisorder in a patient having a specific personalized profile over time.See, for example: http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00162435. This studyshows that certain genotypes/haplotypes show very different responses toWarfarin over time. This means that one can predict morbidity in certainsub-populations over time. Thus, if the genotype/haplotype of thepatient is known, one may consider whether warfarin is a good drug fortreating the specific patient.

In the above-mentioned study, it was noted that the response to warfarinvaries greatly among individuals. Some of this variability can beascribed to genetic polymorphisms in the gene encoding for CYP2C9, theenzyme mediating the metabolism of S warfarin. In addition geneticpolymorphism in other genes (i.e. VKORC1, factor VII) have been shown toaccount for some of the variability in the response to warfarinirrespective of CYP2C9. The present study has several segments:

Evaluation of the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in thegenes encoding for CYP2C9, VKORC1 and factor VII and warfarinmaintenance dose at steady state. This study is a confirmation ofprevious data in our own population.

Evaluation of relationship between genetic polymorphisms in the genesencoding for CYP2C9, VKORC1 and factor VII and warfarin loading doseduring the induction period.

Testing the hypothesis that warfarin loading based on the individual'scombined CYP2C9, VKORC1 and factor VII genotype may be more efficientand associated with reduced adverse drug effects.

Li et at. shows (J Med Genet. Published Online First: 12 Apr. 2006.doi:10.1136/jmg.2005.040410) that polymorphisms in the VKORC1 gene arestrongly associated with warfarin dosage requirements in patientsreceiving anticoagulation

These results are of considerable clinical interest and confirm recentlypublished results regarding the role of these two genes in modifyingwarfarin metabolism and maintenance dosage. The consistent findingsregarding the role of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 in warfarin metabolism andmaintenance dosage represents a clinically useful proof-of-principal forthe use of pharmacogenomic information in medicine and may lead toimproved understanding of warfarin's actions.

Reference is now made to FIG. 12, which is a simplified flowchart 1200for providing a personalized medicine forward prediction of a disease ordisorder, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The profile of a user/patient is defined (step 1202). The personalizedprofile (PP) may include, but is not limited to, any one or more of thefollowing: personalized genetic profile (genotype, haplotype, place inthe family tree created based on the authenticated database, familymedical history); personalized medical records; age, location,socio-economic status, BMI; smoking and drug use profile; occupation;hobbies and other authenticated personalized data; Allergies, etc.

A disease expected progress (DEP) is defined (step 1204). The progressof the disease may be predicted as a function of the patient profile.Thus, if the patient has a certain genetic profile, he may have anincreased chance of morbidity relative to the general population.Alternatively, the opposite may hold true.

For example, it is known that Zarnestra (tipifarnib) targets proteinsinvolved in signaling breast cancer cells to grow. Nearly one in fourwomen on this drug in a phase II clinical trial had some sort ofclinical benefit. In 76 women, Zarnesta (given in tablet form) produceda partial tumor reduction among 10-14% of the patients. In another 9-15%of patients, the cancer did not progress for at least 6 months.(bca.ns.ca/indice/2003/58index.cgi/noframes/read/229148)

In a treating step 1206, the patient may be treated responsive to atleast one of PP and DEP. In other words, if his profile is known, he maybe given a personalized dosage of one or more drugs, which is matched tothe predicted disease progress (DEP) and or to his PP. This methodologyshould allow for improved individual treatment.

Reference is now made to FIG. 13, which is a simplified flowchart 1300for providing a personalized preventative program to a patient, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

In a defining step 1302, the personalized profile (PP) of a user/patientis defined (as was described hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 11 and12).

In a disease prediction step 1304, a respective processor utility of thesystem is operative to predict a possible disease (PD) responsive to PP.For example, a person with a history of heart disease in his family maybe provided with statistics that show that he has a 30% change of aheart attack before the age of 60.

In a step for provision of a personalized screening/prevention program(PPSP) 1306, the patient may be routine checked for any subtle changesin his blood profile, ECG, BMI etc. He may also be provided with aprevention program such as a low dosage of aspirin to be taken dailyfrom the age of 40 onwards.

EXAMPLE 2 Commercial Applications of Family Tree Databases

Many personal details pertaining to each user are verified by at leastone other user and this feature of the present invention allows use ofverified personal parameters. This holds true for both active andpassive users. Active users are those who are in communication withsystem 200 and passive users are those who are reported by the activeusers, but are not themselves active users.

The data from the active users is used to form the database as describedhereinabove. The database may be used to construct a global atlas andworld people information bank. The global atlas and world peopleinformation bank may be used for analysis of data pertaining to sectorsof the world community. The sectors may be defined according to any oneor more of geographic location, age, gender, nationality, religion,lifestyle and socio-economic group. The sectors may be further definedaccording to profession, consumer habits, diet, health, fitness regime,membership of club, associations and guilds.

Thus, every person within the database may belong to several differentsectors according to his personal profile. Accordingly, each sector orsub-sector may comprise a plurality of users who have several commondenominators. Consequentially, the population of the sector orsub-sector may be targeted according to those specific commondenominators. It should be understood that the applications exemplifiedherein of using the sub-sector comprising a plurality of users who haveseveral common denominators for sectorial marketing should not beconstrued to be limiting. The present invention encompasses a very largenumber of possible applications of sectorial marketing.

a) Sectorial Marketing

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to targeted marketingto a sector or sub-sector of users according to their psychological,physical, spiritual and personalized characteristics.

For example, obese 18-25 year old males in the state of South Carolinamay be offered a diet and psychological advice to fit their age group,ethnic group, weight, economic status and location.

For example, they may be offered a diet via a chain food store in thatlocality and a physical training program in some of the key cities. Dueto the relatively low income of many of the people in that area, theywill not be offered high-price sports equipment, nor ski holidays.

In contrast, obese 18-25 year old males who study in an Ivy Leagueuniversity may be offered a Weight-Watcher's program, high-price sportsequipment and ski holidays.

Reference is now made to FIG. 14, which is a simplified schematicflowchart illustrating a commercial method for using the verifieddatabase for marketing/statistical applications in a selected group ofindividuals.

In a processing step 1402, the main verified database is processed tofind all individuals having the following common denominators: e.g.,BMI>30 (obese), 18-25 year- old, US Citizens, males, studying in an IvyLeague university. In step 1404, a group of individuals having thesecommon denominators is formed in a sub-group database (229 in FIG. 3A).The sub-group members may be informed of the existence of othersub-group members (e.g. via website 223 in FIG. 2; step 1406). Forexample, some of the group members attending the same university may beprovided with communication links to the other group members at thatuniversity. In step 1408, some or all of the group members may receiveoffers for products and/or services relevant to them. For example, allthe members in sub-group database 229 attending Harvard may be offered adiscounted membership to a local Boston country club.

In an optional market research step 1410, the individuals' response tothe sales/services offered in step 1408 may be monitored statistically.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, the identity ofthe web-surfer (user) is well defined and authenticated, thus, on thebasis of this knowledge, a large variety of services and products can beoffered to the user, which suits his personal profile.

b) Targeted Advertising

As the user's identity is both authenticated and well-defined, thedatabase of the present invention may be used to define populations fortargeted advertising.

For example, a virtual community of 65 year old poker players fromScandinavia may be offered packages including, but not limited to,gamblers anonymous packages, cigarette and cigars, gift playing cardsets, individual trips to Las Vegas, membership of a national orregional games/gaming club.

Members of a certain family or virtual community may be offered touristpackages, adapted to that specific family or virtual community. Forexample American family members having a history in Australia, Britainand Germany may be offered a tour starting in Britain, visiting theirancestor's home towns of Bristol and Bath, followed by a tourist trip ofLondon and Oxford. Thereafter, they are offered to fly to Hamburg to seethe graves of their great-great-grandparents, a stop-over in Salzburg tohear Mozart operas, and a flight to Sidney to meet their second cousins.The family members may be East and West coast members who have never meteach other and the trip will allow cousins of various degrees to meetfor the first time. Additionally, the family members may be offeredfamily and trip memorabilia.

c) Business-to-Relative Advertising and Marketing

The database of the present invention may be used for finding members orrelatives of a certain community or family. These members/relatives maybe offered certain packages by businesses. Typically, the packages willbe matched to the personal profile of the potential buyer andadditionally may be matched to the personalized profile of a potentialrecipient.

For example, the database may comprise data relating to a hundredmillion of users. Each user has a known birthday. On average, there arethus 300-500,000 users who celebrate their birthday on a specific date.This data may be supplied, for example, to an online marketing websitesuch as Amazon. Amazon may supply by January 20^(th) to the hundredclosest relatives of each individual having a birthday on Jan. 27, 2007with a list of gifts suited to the personality and lifestyle of thatperson. Dan may be such an individual who has his birthday on that date.His family members will be advised of scientific, science-fiction,alternative energy books, suited to his personality Similarly, a list ofclose friends may be provided with lists of gifts.

The lists may also be matched to the relatives and friends. For example,his daughters may be advised of gifts to match their age and budget. Ateenager may be provided with a list of gifts in a $5-10 and $10-30category. A good friend, employed in the same firm may be offered a listof gifts in the $50-100 category.

The friends and relatives of Dan may also be offered to send him anelectronic card or real birthday card.

In another example, members of the Nevada Hang Glider's association maybe offered hang gliding equipment, insurance policies, psychologicaladvice, trips to meet with other hang gliders worldwide, energy foodsand beverages, literature relating to hang gliding and gliding, andposters, postcards and other hang gliding related material. These offersmay be made over the web, or by any other means described with respectto system 200, in FIG. 2.

Family members or community members may be provided with personalizedpackages which are associated with a local or national holiday, areligious festival or holyday, a national or international historicalevent, or a community-associated event.

Members of an environmental group in Scotland, for example, may beoffered literature relating to oil-spills, Chernobyl fall-out, birdmigration and river BOD (Biological oxygen demand) and COD (chemicaloxygen demand) impact on trout populations. The members who purchaseliterature relating to the trout populations may, thereafter, be offeredto go on a trout-fishing weekend in the Lake District.

Young parents having babies of the 12-18 month age range (verified fromthe database) and living in Amsterdam and Munich may be offered a newdiaper/nappy suited to that age group.

Members of a virtual community, such as a virtual “ABBA” fan club, maybe offered ABBA memorabilia in a targeted auction or online garage sale.For example, a pair of boots worn by Bjorn at the Eurovision SongContest, in which he sang “Waterloo” may be offered to members of thisvirtual community.

Similar sales and auctions may be offered to family members. Forexample, Jeremy Bentham's clothes (currently property of UniversityCollege London, UK) may be offered for sale to all of his knowndescendants in an online auction.

Family members or virtual community members may be offered “time out”activities suited to the family or community. For example, a virtualcommunity of actors/actresses may be offered special deals fortheatrical shows, musicals, films, DVDs and videos. Additionally,members can be offered to meet each other to perform “My Fair Lady” atthe local theatre. Likewise, the local theatre may be provided with alist of suitable candidates to perform a theatrical role. The databasecan be used to provide candidates who meet the following criteria: afemale aged 18-35 who can sing, speak with both an Oxbridge and aCockney accent in English, as well as being attractive, 1.65-1.73 m,blond and slim.

The database of the present invention may be used to perform numerousanalyses of individual types from verified and authenticated data. Thisdata can be used for many different types of applications exemplifiedby, but not limited to, the examples described herein.

The database of the present invention may be used to perform numeroustypes of sectorial marketing and advertising, exemplified by, but notlimited to, the examples described herein. It should be understood thatthe information relating to family relatives and community members maybe used off-line by commercial establishments as well as on-line.

d) Multi-Level Marketing

The database of the present invention may be used to perform optimizedmulti-level marketing within a family or community. The knowledge of thelifestyle of the individuals within the family or community may be usedto define the better and worse targets for a certain product or service.Thus, for example, all female family members aged 55+ may be offered a“new age anti-aging face cream” using multi-level marketing.

EXAMPLE 3 Statistical Research

The database of the present invention may be used for epidemiologicalstudies, trend studies, consumer studies within a geographic location,population, real or virtual community or family.

Sectorial statistical studies may be performed relating to longevity ofa sector or population, disease analysis, consumer analysis.

For example, a market research program can be performed on male 45 yearold academics who live on the US West Coast. A tobacco company may wishto know the opinions of members of such a sector relating to a newpotent genetically engineered caffeine and nicotine containing tobaccoproduct.

A government may wish to map the number of pension-less pensioners in adistrict who do not have medical insurance. Again, this sector can bemapped directly from active users as well as from passive users, whoseinformation is obtained from active users.

EXAMPLE 4 Identifying Hostile Persons, Lost Persons, Relatives ofDeceased Persons, Possessions of the Deceased Persons From Family TreeDatabases

The methods and systems for forming family trees described herein areunique in that the family members are authenticated to a very high levelof confidence. Thus, users who are not verified over a period of timemay become suspects for having provided false information. These userswill be identified as “floating branches” which are not attached to anyother branch. They will not be granted access to the database as theyare not verified.

These unverified individuals may also provide clues as to their trueidentity by trying to access certain close relatives and/or friends. Insome cases, the system of the present invention may be able to provide ageographic location of such a person, which may be used by a familysearching for a lost individual, a police, government or legalestablishment for finding that person.

Reference is now made to FIG. 15, which is a simplified schematicflowchart 1500 illustrating a commercial method for using the verifieddatabase for a legal application in a selected group of individuals.

A person may die or be killed in step 1502. The information pertainingto the deceased may be advertised in the media or may be available inlocal or national government records.

In a feeding step 1504, an individual may enter the informationregarding the deceased into database 227 (FIG. 3A). Alternatively, theinformation may received electronically.

In searching step 1506, processor 228 is operative to search for nearestof kin/relatives of the deceased in database 227. If somerelatives/nearest of kin are found, they are asked in step 1508 if theywish to be updated with respect to the status of the deceasedindividual. If no, they are not informed.

If yes, the nearest of kin are updated in updating step 1510 withrespect to the death of the individual and any funeral arrangements.

In an informing step 1512, the information regarding the nearest of kincan be provided to the attorney of the deceased, for a fee. The attorneycan then contact the nearest of kin/relatives and update them in step1514 with respect to the inheritance of an intestate deceased individualvia the standard legal procedures of the specific jurisdiction of thedeceased.

There are thousands if not millions of unclaimed bank accounts,pensions, insurance and endowment policies worldwide. The database ofpresent invention can be used to remind individuals of their ownaccounts, and further to appropriate such accounts to the nearest of kinof a deceased individual.

Disputes pertaining to land ownership, may, at least in part, be solvedusing the data from the databases of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 5 Family Applications of Family Tree Databases

Users may be informed of new relatives added to their family tree andthus be updated in real time with respect to “newly found relatives”.

EXAMPLE 6 Extraction of Data From Family Trees to Create Family Portals

Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to a familyportal or family website, in which members of the family, who appear onthe family tree are members thereof and have access thereto.

By portal is meant a Web page that serves as a point of entry forsurfers of the World Wide Web. It should be noted that most of thepopular portals are designed to optimize their compatibility with one ormore Web search engines. Many portals also offer value-added servicessuch as e-mail accounts, Web page hosting, or filtered information flow,with the costs of these services being underwritten by advertising.

A family website, according to some embodiments, includes servicesspecific to members of the family, such as, but not limited to, a systemfor sharing photos, videos, an organizational chart an events calendar,a Roots family record, systems for communication between the familymembers, such as Messenger or a voice communication system operatingover a computer network, e.g. a voice over IP system operation over theInternet.

The information which exists in the tree, such as names of familymembers and the connections and relationship between them are used as abasis for the formation of the portal. For example, the Johnson familymay define the family website's name, authorization of access,development of personal websites for each family member separately, hispicture, his birthday, his personal profile which is derived, at leastpartially, from the data in the family tree.

Similarly, family books and/or online newspapers may be formed from thedata in the family tree.

EXAMPLE 7 Methods of Combining Different Forms of Family Information

According to some embodiments of the present invention, informationfound in family trees in paper form or published in books may beconverted by means of standard optical character recognition (OCR)methods known in the art into digital or analog information. In somecases, the paper tree or other paper form may be scanned and saved todisk, prior to performing OCR.

According to some embodiments, the ability of family members tocommunicate within the portal/website is such that each family memberknows what the relationship between him/her and the other peoplecommunicating within the portal is. This may be found by reference tothe family tree or by being able to access the information via astandard search engine as is known in the art. Furthermore, the familymember may have access to one or more of the following: screenshotspertaining to family members, a family calendar, an online family tree,a family database and a corresponding family organizational chart. Eachindividual may define the family members from whom he wishes to receiveinformation and to whom he wishes to provide information.

An individual or family may appear in one or more portals and in one ormore family trees.

A user may be provided, for example, with a calendar of family eventsvia the portal, such as by providing reminders regarding events such asbirthdays, the information of which it extracts from the family treedatabase .

According to some embodiments, an individual is characterized accordingto his personalized parameters, such as, but not limited to, age,gender, hierarchical location in a family tree or chart, geographicallocation, nationality and religion. If the individual's personalizedparameters meet a certain criterion or various criteria, he may beautomatically provided by the system with at least one of:advertisements, sales offers, media items, stories, family-relatedinformation or material.

In some cases, the individual receives at least one of: advertisements,sales offers, media items, stories, family-related information ormaterial from another family member. In some cases, the individual willhave control of the material which he receives and in some other casesthe other family member (sender) will have a degree of control of thematerial sent to the individual.

EXAMPLE 8 Extraction of Data From a Family Tree to Create Individual WebPages Therefrom

This invention, according to some embodiments, is directed to methodsfor automatic generation of a web page by processor for every individualin the family tree by extracting the data pertaining to the individualfrom the family tree database and transferring it to a web page viaLAN/WAN for display at one or more interfaces. The data may include theindividual's name, date of birth, names of parents and the like.

EXAMPLE 9 The Chronology- Display Application Showing Family Events inChronological Sequence

A chronological personified time line may be created from the familytree database, in accordance with certain embodiments of the presentinvention. Data is extracted from at least one of a family treedatabase, a family tree display and/or from family or individual webpages.

A time line comprises divisions, which may extend over part or all ofthe screen. Each division signifies a period of time

Personalized events are displayed chronologically and are provided withtitles in the language of the individual.

Data pertaining to the personalized time line may be extracted from thefamily tree database, from an online/offline family tree, from nationalor church records or any other data source known in the art.

1) Family Forum and Chat

Another application of the data found in the family tree database, orfrom an online/offline family tree, is using the data in a family forum.An individual may send a message to another family member. Processorprovides the senders true name to the recipient. Furthermore, hispersonal details as appearing in the family tree and/or on his personalweb page may be automatically provided to the family forum.

Two or more family members may communicate to each other, each oneknowing the true identity and degree of relatedness of him to theothers. This system allows for “many to many” communication, includingelectronic communication such as emails and SMSes and voicecommunication over the internet and over other communication systemsknown in the art.

2) Family Messenger

A message may be sent from a sender to a recipient and the processor isconfigured to provide at least one of the sender and recipient withdetails of the family connection between them. For example, theprocessor may extract the information from the family tree database,from a family tree (not shown), from a web page and provide theinformation with the message on a display at one or more of theinterfaces.

EXAMPLE 10 Photograph and Portrait Authentication

A portrait, photograph or other image of a person who is known by atleast one family member may be identified by the family member andstored in the family tree to database or by the system at an image banklocation. Images of one or more unidentified individuals may be fed intosystem 200 and may be compared by image analysis methods known in theart. Using this methodology a family tree image bank may be compiled.Upon merging of small family trees by methods known in the art, anational or international/world family tree image bank (FTIB) may beformed. The FTIB may be used by local and international police anintelligence services, as well as for, amongst others, genetic,epidemiological, and anthropological studies.

EXAMPLE 11 Personalized Sectorial Searches

A user can perform a search using the database of the present inventionto map his relatives aged 30-35, who live in Australia, with theprovisos, that the relatives are of the third degree or closer and areactive users.

A user may wish to find friends of a certain type or persuasion. He mayuse the website of the present invention to seek such friends based upontheir authenticated identities and characteristics.

A user may be provided with a family tree, a family chart, a familytable or any other family display described herein. The user may be thecenter of the tree or chart and this may assist him in locating familymembers and understanding the degree of relatedness between himself andthe family member(s).

In the detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that these are specificembodiments and that the present invention may be practiced also indifferent ways that embody the characterizing features of the inventionas described and claimed herein.

The references cited herein teach many principles that are applicable tothe present invention. Therefore the full contents of these publicationsare incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for teachings ofadditional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details set forth in the description contained hereinor illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.

Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that variousmodifications and changes can be applied to the embodiments of theinvention as hereinbefore described without departing from its scope,defined in and by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for using and managing a database,the method comprising: providing a verified database of a plurality ofidentified individuals, the verified database comprising a plurality ofindividual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and relationship data; andprocessing said verified database in accordance with one or moreparameters or conditions selected in accordance with at least onemedical application and creating a sub-group database including datarecords of the individuals from the verified database having said one ormore selected parameters or conditions, thereby allowing collection ofdata comprising one or more selected parameters or conditions anddelivery of at least part of the collected data to one or more users andenable to apply data from said verified database to provide personalizedmedicine service to at least one of said identified individuals; whereinsaid providing of the verified database comprises: permitting aplurality of individuals to enter individual-associated data bits (IDBS)into a computerized system, each of the IDBs comprising at least onepersonal identifier relating to the individual and relationship datacomprising data on one or more related individuals and the nature ofrelationship; processing the entered IDBs to generate the IDS, one foreach identified individual, being either said individual who has enteredthe individual-associated data bits or one of the related individualsand construct the verified database comprising IDSs of identifiedindividuals.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said processingof the verified database in accordance with said one or more selectedparameters or conditions is initiated by a request from a user.
 3. Amethod according to claim 2, wherein said user is the individual whosedata is included in the verified database.
 4. A method according toclaim 1, wherein said processing comprises generating a request to atleast some of the individuals whose data is included into the verifieddatabase to provide additional data according to said one or moreselected parameters or conditions.
 5. A method according to claim 4,comprising updating the verified database with the additional datareceived from at least some of the individuals, and applying saidprocessing to the updated verified database to create the sub-groupdatabase.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the selectedparameters or conditions include at least one parameter or conditionselected according to one of the following applications: a commercialapplication, sectorial and targeted marketing application, a statisticalapplication, an identifying application selected from identifying ahostile person, a lost person, a relationship between a deceased personand living person, a family application.
 7. A method according to claim1, wherein said processing of the verified database comprises creating amedical database of at least some of said identified individuals, saidmedical database comprising information pertaining to at least one of adisease, a medical condition, a genotype, a phenotype, a familyrelationship; and a geographic location of at least one of saididentified individuals.
 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein saidat least one medical application is based upon personalized medicine. 9.A method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of the verifieddatabase comprises filtering said verified database to create thesubgroup of identified individuals.
 10. A method according to claim 9,comprising providing at least one of a product and a service to at leastone individual of said subgroup.
 11. A method according to claim 10,wherein the provision step is responsive to information pertaining tosaid at least one individual.
 12. A method according to claim 1, whereinsaid processing comprises constructing a family database for eachindividual.
 13. A method according to claim 12, comprising: a)constructing at least two IDSs for corresponding at least two identifiedfirst individuals; b) identifying at least two IDSs having overlappingrelationship data including at least one identical identified individualin the corresponding relationship data; and c) consolidating the atleast two relationship data pieces to construct an expanded relationshipdata record.
 14. A method according to claim 13, comprising constructingan expanded family database that comprises all family databases whichare overlapping family databases and comprise data identifying theconnection between individual of the expanded family database.
 15. Amethod according to claim 7, comprising combining at least one personalmedical record with data from the verified database.
 16. A methodaccording to claim 15, comprising providing personalized medical serviceselected from a personalized treatment service, a personalizedprevention service and a personalized prediction service.
 17. Acomputerized system for managing and using a database over a computernetwork, the system comprising a server system linked to the network andaccessible by users via their communication devices connectable to thenetwork, said server system comprising a processor utility, which isassociated with a verified database of a plurality of identifiedindividuals comprising a plurality of individual-identifier data sets(IDSs) and relationship data and which is adapted to carry out thefollowing; process said verified database in accordance with one or moreparameters or conditions selected according to at least one medicalapplication and create a sub-group database comprising data about atleast some of the identified individuals characterized by said one ormore selected parameters or conditions, and apply data from saidverified database in order to provide a personalized medicine service toat least one of said identified individuals; configured to carry out thefollowing: receive a plurality of individual-associated data bits (IDBS)entered by clients, the IDBs comprising personal identifiers andrelationship data, the relationship data comprising data on one or morerelated individuals and the nature of relationship, generate anindividual-identifier data set (IDS), one for each identifiedindividual, being either one of the users or one of the relatedindividuals, process all the IDSs and construct a verified databasecomprising IDSs of identified individuals and their position in arelationship web, and process the information in said verified databaseaccording to said at least one selected parameter or condition andcreate the corresponding sub-group database of at least some of saididentified individuals.
 18. A system according to claim 17, wherein saidprocessor utility is responsive to a user request to perform saidprocessing of the verified database and creation of the sub-groupdatabase.
 19. A system according to claim 17, wherein said server systemcomprises a second processing utility configured to be responsive to acommand from the first processing utility to generate a request to atleast some of said identified individuals to provide additional dataaccording to said one more parameters and conditions to thereby updatingof the sub-group database.
 20. A system according to claim 19, whereinsaid second processing utility is configured for updating the verifieddatabase with said additional data.
 21. A system according to claim 17,wherein said first processing utility is configured for using saidsub-group database for collecting certain information fromand/delivering certain information to at least some of the identifiedindividuals of said sub-group database.
 22. A system according to claim17, wherein said sub-group database comprises a medical databasecomprising information pertaining to at least one of a disease, amedical condition, a genotype, a phenotype, a family relationship; and ageographic location of at least one of said identified individuals. 23.A computerized system for managing and using a database, the systemcomprising a server system accessible by users via their communicationdevices connectable to the server system, said server system comprisinga processor utility, which is associated with a verified database of aplurality of identified individuals comprising a plurality ofindividual-identifier data sets (IDSs) and relationship data and whichis adapted to carry out the following: process said verified database inaccordance with one or more parameters or conditions selected accordingto at least one medical application and create a sub-group databasecomprising data about at least some of the identified individualscharacterized by said one or more selected parameters or conditions, andapply data from said verified database in order to provide apersonalized medicine service to at least one of said identifiedindividuals; wherein said providing of the verified database comprises:permitting a plurality of individuals to enter individual-associateddata bits (IDBS) into a computerized system, each of the IDBs comprisingat least one personal identifier relating to the individual andrelationship data comprising data on one or more related individuals andthe nature of relationship; processing the entered IDBs to generate theIDS, one for each identified individual, being either said individualwho has entered the individual-associated data bits or one of therelated individuals and construct the verified database comprising IDSsof identified individuals.